A blast has resulted in the deaths of at least eight individuals and injuries to 18 more during Friday prayers at a mosque in Homs, Syria, according to the health ministry.
Images from the state-run news agency, Sana, depict the interior of the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque, featuring charred black walls, shattered windows, and blood stains on the carpet.
Authorities suspect an explosive device was detonated within the mosque, reports Sana, referencing a security official. While the hunt for those responsible continues, the jihadist outfit Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah has claimed responsibility for the blast.
This mosque is situated in the Wadi al-Dhahab neighborhood, predominantly inhabited by the Alawite ethnoreligious community.
Syria’s Foreign Ministry denounced the “terrorist act,” stating in a statement on X that the “despicable act is a striking violation of human and moral principles” aimed at “destabilizing the security and tranquility” of the nation.
Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah, a Sunni extremist faction, has alleged that it executed the attack in concert with another unnamed group, utilizing explosives placed at the location.
The group’s unclear origins and ambiguous connections, which gained attention in June when it took credit for a fatal bombing at a church in Damascus, have led to inquiries regarding its true affiliations and legitimacy.
Some analysts have speculated that it may serve as a cover for the Islamic State group (IS) based on the similarities in their rhetoric and choice of targets.
This new claim comes after a period of several months with little to no reported attacks from Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah, which mostly involved alleged targeted assassinations of minorities and what the group refers to as “remnants” of the previous administration of Bashar al-Assad.
The detonation occurs one year following the ousting of Assad by Syrian rebel forces, who belong to the Alawite sect. This sect is a branch of Shia Islam, with its members constituting one of the largest religious minorities in the nation.
Since that time, Syria has experienced multiple episodes of sectarian strife, with Alawites fearing acts of revenge and facing repressive actions. Assad has sought refuge in Russia, an ally of his administration, where he and his family have received asylum.
In March, it was reported that security forces killed numerous Alawites in the coastal region of Latakia, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
Additional reporting by BBC Monitoring
