Deadly explosion during Friday prayers inside Syrian mosque
At least eight people were killed and 18 injured in an explosion during Friday prayers at a mosque in the Syrian city of Homs, the health ministry said.
Photos from Syria’s state news agency Sanaa show the interior of the Imam Ali bin Abu Talib Mosque black, with burnt walls, shattered windows and blood on the carpet.
According to Sana’a, citing a security source, authorities believe that an explosive device was detonated inside the building. While authorities are still trying to find the perpetrators, jihadist group Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah claimed responsibility.
The mosque is located in the Wadi al-Dhahab neighborhood, where most people are part of the Alawite ethno-religious group.
Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the “terrorist crime”: Statement about X “The cowardly act is a clear attack on human and moral values, designed to “undermine the security and stability” of the country.
Sunni extremist group Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah said it carried out the attack in collaboration with another unidentified group, using explosives planted in the area.
The group’s murky origins and opaque dealings came to the fore when it took charge in June. Deadly church bombing in DamascusIt raised questions about its real connections and authenticity.
Some observers suggest that this may be a front for ISIS, given the similarity in their messages and types of targets.
The latest claim comes after a months-long lull in attacks on the palace claimed by Ansar al-Sunnah; These attacks largely involved targeted killings of minorities and what the group described as “remnants” of the former Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad.
The explosion occurred a year after Syrian rebels overthrew Alawite Assad. The sect is an offshoot of Shiite Islam, whose members form one of the country’s largest religious minorities.
Since then, Syria has seen many waves of sectarian violence, with Alawites fearing reprisals and repression. Assad fled to Russia, an ally of his regime, and he and his family were granted asylum.
In March, Security forces accused of killing dozens of Alevis The war monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) is reportedly in the coastal province of Latakia.
Additional reporting by BBC Monitoring
