Tragic Mosque Blast in Homs, Syria Kills Eight During Friday Prayers

Sat Dec 27 2025 17:50:36 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

An explosion at the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque in Homs has left at least eight dead and 18 injured, raising concerns of growing sectarian violence in Syria, particularly targeting the Alawite community.

At least eight people have died and 18 others were injured in a devastating blast at a mosque in Homs, Syria, during Friday prayers. The explosion at the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque is believed to be the result of a detonated explosive, with the jihadist group Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah claiming responsibility. This attack highlights the increasing fears of sectarian violence in the region, particularly against the Alawite community, as the country grapples with the aftermath of the Syrian civil war.

An explosion has killed at least eight people and injured 18 others during Friday prayers inside a mosque in the Syrian city of Homs, according to the health ministry.

Pictures from Syria's state-run news agency, Sana, reveal the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque with black, scorched walls, smashed windows, and blood staining the carpet.

Officials believe that an explosive was detonated within the mosque. While authorities continue to search for the perpetrators, the jihadist group Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah claims responsibility for the explosion.

The mosque is located in Wadi al-Dhahab neighbourhood, predominantly inhabited by the Alawite ethnoreligious group.

Syria's Foreign Ministry condemned the terrorist crime, stating that the cowardly act is a blatant assault on human and moral values aimed at undermining the security and stability of the nation.

Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah, a Sunni extremist group, has stated it executed the attack in collaboration with another unidentified group, utilizing explosives planted at the site. This group's murky origins have raised questions regarding its true affiliations, prompting some observers to speculate potential links to the Islamic State.

The recent claim by Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah follows a lull in their claimed attacks and is indicative of heightened sectarian tensions in Syria. The blast follows a year after Syrian rebel forces overthrew President Bashar al-Assad, with Alawites, who have been targeted for reprisals, facing increasing fear and violence.

In March, security forces were reported to have killed numerous Alawites in the coastal province of Latakia, signalling ongoing violence against this community. As sectarian violence escalates, the fate of Alawites in Syria remains uncertain.