At least eight people were killed and 18 others injured in an explosion at the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib mosque in the Wadi al-Dhahab neighbourhood of Homs on Friday, Syrian authorities said.
The blast occurred during Friday prayers, a time when worshippers were gathered inside the mosque.
The Syrian Interior Ministry described the incident as a terrorist attack. Videos released by state media showed extensive damage to the mosque’s interior, with debris scattered across the floor. Security forces established a cordon around the site and began collecting evidence.
It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack. A group calling itself Ansar al-Sunnah claimed responsibility, but Syrian officials have not publicly verified the claim.
Survivors described chaotic scenes as the blast struck. “With the first prostration came a huge explosion. People were all on the floor, some had their heads blown off. Many were injured and fled,” Bashar Al-Issa told state media.
The Wadi al-Dhahab area is predominantly home to Alawite Muslims, a sect that has previously faced attacks from extremist groups. Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, who assumed office earlier this year, has pledged to protect all communities while rebuilding national security.
The attack drew international condemnation. France issued a statement condemning the explosion “in the strongest possible terms,” describing it as part of a “deliberate strategy aimed at destabilising Syria and its transitional authorities.” The French Foreign Ministry expressed solidarity with the victims’ families and reaffirmed France’s commitment to fighting violent extremism and supporting Syria’s political transition.
Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar also condemned the attack and offered condolences to the victims.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he ordered a military strike targeting Islamic State (ISIS/Daesh) militants in Nigeria to be delayed by one...
At least eight people were killed and 18 others injured in an explosion at the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib mosque in the Wadi al-Dhahab neighbourhood of Ho...
Russian attacks on the cities of Kharkiv and Uman on 25–26 December 2025 killed at least two people and injured 14, local authorities reported....
The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, held in Tianjin, China, has been hailed as one of the most significant gatherings in the bloc...
The move is intended to combine digital innovation and long-term infrastructure planning with further modernise urban mobility while strengthening the...
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he ordered a military strike targeting Islamic State (ISIS/Daesh) militants in Nigeria to be delayed by one day, calling the attack a “Christmas present” to the terror group.
Russian attacks on the cities of Kharkiv and Uman on 25–26 December 2025 killed at least two people and injured 14, local authorities reported.
The tectonic plates of global trade and geopolitics are shifting, demanding that regional cooperative structures evolve to match new strategic realities.
The move is intended to combine digital innovation and long-term infrastructure planning with further modernise urban mobility while strengthening the country’s position as a key transit hub across Eurasia.
A majority of Russians expect the war in Ukraine to end in 2026, state pollster VTsIOM said on Wednesday, in a sign that the Kremlin could be testing public reaction to a possible peace settlement as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict intensify.
In 2025, Ukraine lived two parallel realities: one of diplomacy filled with staged optimism, and another shaped by a war that showed no sign of letting up.
It’s been a year since an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 people. Relatives and loved ones mourn the victims, as authorities near the final stage of their investigation.
Polish fighter jets on Thursday intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying near Poland’s airspace over the Baltic Sea and escorted it away from their area of responsibility.
The United States carried out a strike against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria at the request of Nigeria's government, President Donald Trump and the U.S. military said on Thursday.
Three women were injured on Friday after being stabbed by a man on Line 3 of the Paris metro, local authorities reported.
Four members of Syria’s General Directorate of Ports were injured on Friday when their vehicle came under fire east of Aleppo, local authorities reported.
Russia is likely preparing to station its new nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missiles at a former airbase in eastern Belarus, a move that could extend Moscow’s strike reach across Europe, according to an exclusive Reuters report.
Israel on Friday became the first country to formally recognise Somaliland as an independent state, a move that has been condemned by Somalia, the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and the African Union (AU).
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that Russia is using territory in neighbouring Belarus to support attacks on Ukrainian targets and to circumvent Kyiv’s defensive positions, warning that the practice undermines Belarusian sovereignty.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment