Explosion in mosque during Friday prayers in Syria, 8 killed

At least eight people were killed and 18 injured in an explosion inside a mosque during Friday prayers in the Syrian city of Homs, the BBC reported on Friday (December 26), citing the country’s health ministry. Pictures published by the state news agency SANA showed that the walls inside the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib mosque were charred and blackened by the explosion. The windows were broken. Some pictures also showed blood stains on the mosque’s carpet.
SANA said that security officials initially believed that an explosive device had been placed inside the mosque. Meanwhile, Syrian security forces are still trying to identify the attackers. The Syrian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the incident, calling it a “terrorist attack”. In a statement published on social media X, the ministry said that this cowardly attack is a naked blow to humanitarian and moral values. It aims to undermine the security and stability of the country.
Meanwhile, Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah said it carried out the attack in collaboration with another unidentified group, using explosives planted at the scene. The group first came to light after claiming responsibility for a deadly bombing at a Damascus church in June. However, details of the organization are still unknown.