Explosion at Homs Mosque Kills Eight During Friday Prayers

An explosion during Friday prayers at the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque in Homs, Syria, resulted in at least eight deaths and 18 injuries. The attack occurred in the predominantly Alawite Wadi al-Dhahab neighborhood.

The Syrian Interior Ministry described the incident as a "terrorist explosion" and stated that security forces have cordoned off the area and initiated an investigation.

A group named Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that it detonated several explosive devices inside the mosque in coordination with another organization.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, calling it a "cowardly act" and a "blatant assault on human and moral values."

UN Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the attack, emphasizing that "attacks against civilians and places of worship are unacceptable" and calling for those responsible to be brought to justice.

This incident underscores the ongoing sectarian tensions in Syria, particularly targeting Alawite communities following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, himself an Alawite.