WEB DESK: A tragic blast struck a mosque in a predominantly Alawite district of Homs, Syria, on Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least six individuals, according to local security officials.
The Interior Ministry reported that the explosion occurred during Friday prayers at the Ali Bin Abi Talib Mosque, located on Al-Khadri Street in the Wadi al-Dahab neighborhood. The authorities confirmed six fatalities and 21 injuries.
Homs has historically experienced intense sectarian conflict during the Syrian civil war. Syria’s official news agency, Sana, stated that an investigation is underway to determine the cause and nature of the explosion.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in Britain, indicated that it was not immediately clear whether the explosion was a suicide bombing or caused by an explosive device. A security source in Homs anonymously suggested that the blast might have been caused by a device planted inside the mosque.
Eyewitnesses in the area described a loud detonation that incited chaos and panic among residents. One resident, speaking out of fear for safety, told AFP that residents are afraid to leave their homes, and emergency sirens are prevalent in the neighborhood.
Photos from inside the mosque, shared by Sana, showed a large hole in one wall, with smoke lingering around the site. Debris, including scattered carpets and books, was visible amid the damage, Since the removal of Assad from power in 2024, reports from Homs and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights indicate an increase in kidnappings and killings targeting minority groups, particularly Alawites.
In March, Syria’s coastal regions experienced a massacre of Alawite civilians, with authorities accusing armed supporters of Assad of inciting violence against security personnel. A national inquiry estimated that over 1,400 members of the Alawite minority were killed during this period, while the Syrian Observatory reported the death toll exceeding 1,700.
