Hundreds of mourners braved cold and rainy conditions in the Syrian city of Homs on Saturday to pay their respects following a fatal mosque bombing that claimed eight lives and left 18 others wounded.
Scene of Carnage at Imam Ali Mosque
The attack occurred on Friday at the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque, located in the Wadi al-Dhahab neighbourhood. Preliminary investigations suggest that explosive devices were planted inside the place of worship, though officials have not yet publicly named any suspects.
A local resident, who gave his name as Abu Ahmad due to security fears, described hearing a "very, very strong explosion" from his home. Rushing to the scene with neighbours, he found people fleeing in terror and entered to a harrowing sight. "We entered and began trying to help the wounded, amid blood and scattered body parts on the floor," he recounted.
Militant Group Claims Sectarian Motive
Responsibility for the assault was claimed by a little-known militant faction calling itself Saraya Ansar al-Sunna. In a statement on Telegram, the group said it deliberately targeted members of the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shia Islam whom hard-line Sunni Islamists often regard as heretics.
This is not the group's first major attack. It also claimed a suicide bombing in June at a Greek Orthodox church on the outskirts of Damascus, which killed 25 Sunday worshippers.
Community Mourns 'House of God' Open to All
Despite the neighbourhood's predominantly Alawite population, Abu Ahmad emphasised the mosque's inclusive nature. "It's the house of God. The mosque's door is open to everyone. No one ever asked questions. Whoever wants to enter can enter," he stated.
On Saturday, mourners gathered outside the cordoned-off crime scene, unable to pray inside. They conducted prayers in the street before driving in convoy to bury the victims. Some marched through the streets chanting "Ya Ali," a devotional reference to the Prophet Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, a figure revered in Shia Islam.
The bombing underscores the persistent threat of sectarian violence and terrorism in parts of Syria, even in areas once considered secure.
