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- 8 killed, 18 wounded in mosque bombing in Syria (cbsnews.com)
Bombing Rocks Homs Mosque, Killing Eight and Wounding Dozens Amid Rising Syrian Tensions
HOMS, SYRIA – A devastating bombing during Friday prayers at the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque in Homs, Syria, has claimed the lives of at least eight people and left 18 others wounded, according to local authorities. The attack, which occurred in the Wadi al-Dhahab neighborhood, a predominantly Alawite area, further exacerbates the already fragile security situation across the nation.
Images released by Syria’s state-run Arab News Agency depicted a scene of carnage, with bloodstains marring the mosque’s carpets, significant fire damage, shattered windows, and holes blown into the walls. Preliminary investigations, as cited by SANA from a security source, suggest that explosive devices were deliberately planted inside the place of worship.
A security cordon has been established around the mosque as authorities actively search for those responsible for the heinous act, the Syrian Interior Ministry confirmed in a statement.
The bombing unfolds against a backdrop of escalating tensions throughout various regions of Syria. While large-scale fighting has largely subsided, long-standing sectarian, ethnic, and political divisions continue to destabilize the country. Just last week, the U.S. conducted strikes in the country following an ambush by ISIS fighters that resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a U.S. citizen interpreter.
Since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad last year, who has since fled to Russia, Syria has experienced multiple waves of sectarian clashes. Members of Assad’s Alawite sect have reportedly faced crackdowns, and a March ambush by Assad’s supporters against security forces ignited days of violence that killed hundreds, primarily Alawites.
Local officials swiftly condemned Friday’s attack, characterizing it as part of “repeated desperate attempts to undermine security and stability and sow chaos among the Syrian people.” In a separate statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated, “Syria reiterates its firm stance in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”
The Syrian information minister, in a post on X, directly implicated “remnants of the former regime, ISIS militants and collaborators,” stating their shared goal is “obstructing the path of the new state by undermining stability, threatening civil peace, and eroding the shared coexistence and common destiny of Syrians throughout history.”
Neighboring countries, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Lebanon, have also issued condemnations. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed “Lebanon’s support for Syria in its fight against terrorism.”
Adding to the volatile climate, intermittent clashes erupted on Monday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in mixed neighborhoods of northern Aleppo. These skirmishes led to temporary closures of schools and public institutions, forcing civilians to seek shelter. A late-evening ceasefire was eventually announced by both sides amid ongoing de-escalation efforts.
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- 8 killed, 18 wounded in mosque bombing in Syria (cbsnews.com)