Bomb Blast at Damascus Café Kills at Least Six Amid Political Transition

A bomb exploded inside a crowded café near the main courthouse complex in Damascus on Thursday, killing at least six people and wounding nearly two dozen, according to Syrian authorities. The interior ministry said the blast was caused by an explosive device but did not identify the perpetrators. State media released images showing bloodied floors and overturned chairs as emergency crews responded.

Most of the injured were taken to Al-Mujtahid Hospital, where families sought access to the bodies of their loved ones. Samar, 61, said her brother Fathi had been with the family only two hours before the explosion and that his wife Rawaa was also wounded.

"Now he’s gone," said Samar’s brother Mohammed.

The attack follows a series of bombings and militant assaults that have occurred since an Islamist-led rebel coalition overthrew President Bashar al-Assad in late 2024. The Islamic State, which continues to operate through scattered cells, has claimed several recent attacks and has accused the new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, of betraying its extremist ideology.

Analysts note that while the group announced a “new phase” of operations earlier this year, the frequency of attacks remains lower than the peaks recorded in 2024 and 2025. The bombing comes as al-Sharaa completed the appointment of the final 70 members of Syria’s first post-Assad parliament, a body slated to convene on Monday as part of the country’s fragile political transition.