2025 Homs mosque bombing

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2025 Homs mosque bombing
Location of the bombing in Wadi Al-Dhabab
Location 34°42′9″N36°43′39″E / 34.70250°N 36.72750°E / 34.70250; 36.72750
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque, Homs, Syria
Date26 December 2025
c. 12:30 p.m. (UTC+03:00)
Attack type
 IED detonation
Deaths8
Injured18
Perpetrators
Motive Anti-Alawism (per SAIC)

On 26 December 2025, a bombing occurred in the Alawite-majority Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib mosque in Homs, Syria during Friday prayers. The explosion killed eight people and left eighteen more injured. [1] The Islamist militant group, Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah claimed responsibility for the attack via a statement on Telegram. [2]

Contents

Background

Following the fall of the Assad regime, the city of Homs experienced a deterioration in security and a resurgence of sectarian tensions. [3] According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), multiple episodes of communal violence were recorded in Homs and surrounding areas during the post-Assad period, including attacks on and retaliatory killings of Alawite civilians amid broader unrest between different sectarian groups, contributing to a volatile security situation in the city. [4] [5] [6]

Bombing

The bombing occurred in Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque in the Wadi al-Dahab neighborhood, an Alawite-majority neighborhood, during Friday prayer. [7] An eyewitness told Al Jazeera Arabic that the explosion occurred between the times of Adhan and Iqama, and that the explosion felt like it came from the western side of the mosque. [8]

Eight fatalities and 18 injuries were reported as a result of the attack. [7] [9]

Perpetrators

Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah, an extremist Islamist terrorist group, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on Telegram, saying that it detonated several explosive devices inside the mosque in coordination with members of another organization, warning that its operations "will continue to escalate". [10] [11] The group was formed shortly after the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024 and had previously carried out a suicide bombing inside a church in Damascus in June 2025. [12]

The Syrian Ministry of Interior told Al Arabiya that the Islamic State might be involved in the attack, noting that the assailant had placed a bomb-laden bag inside the mosque. [10]

Reactions

Domestic

Syrian authorities, including the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Endowments, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Information, condemned the attack as a cowardly terrorist act targeting places of worship and national unity, reaffirmed Syria's rejection of terrorism, pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice, and extended condolences to the victims' families while wishing the injured a speedy recovery. [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]

The Supreme Alawite Islamic Council condemned the attack, describing it as part of a broader campaign of violence and incitement against Alawites. [18]

The Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria condemned the bombing as a terrorist crime aimed at spreading chaos and destabilizing society and expressed solidarity with the victims. [19]

International

The attack drew widespread international condemnation. Bahrain, France, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates condemned the bombing as an act of terrorism and expressed solidarity with Syria and condolences to the victims' families. [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30]

The Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Muslim World League condemned the attack, reaffirming their rejection of terrorism and warning against attempts to destabilize Syria. [31] [32] [33]

The United Nations condemned the attack, stating that attacks on civilians and places of worship are unacceptable and that those responsible must be brought to justice. [34]

Aftermath

Demonstrations were held by the Alawite community in Tartus and Latakia on 28 December in protest against the attack. The protests were called for by Alawite Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal of the Supreme Alawite Islamic Council, drew thousands of participants calling for greater protection and political reforms. In Latakia, cars belonging to security forces were set on fire and clashes between protesters and security forces resulted in two deaths, while in Tartus a hand grenade was thrown at a police station, injuring two members of the security forces during the unrest. [35]

References

  1. ↑ "Explosion at mosque in Syria's Homs kills at least eight". Al Jazeera English . 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  2. ↑ "Islamist militant group claims deadly bombing of Alawite mosque in Syria's Homs". France 24 . 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  3. ↑ "No Fewer than 20 Civilians Extrajudicially Killed in Homs City Between April 23-28, 2025". ReliefWeb. 30 April 2025.
  4. ↑ "Briefing Notes Summary: Group 62 – Information Centre for Asylum and Migration" (PDF). Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. 30 June 2025.
  5. ↑ "Sectarian Tensions Flare in Syria's Homs After the Killing of a Bedouin Couple". Asharq Al-Awsat. 23 November 2025.
  6. ↑ "Minority Alawites Protest in Syria After Sectarian Attacks". The New York Times. 25 November 2025.
  7. 1 2 "قتلى وجرحى بانفجار استهدف مسجداً داخل حي في حمص بسوريا" [Dead and Injured in Explosion Targeting a Mosque in a Homs Neighborhood, Syria]. BBC Arabic (in Arabic). 26 December 2025. Archived from the original on 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  8. ↑ "ناجٍ من تفجير مسجد حمص يروي لحظات الرعب بين الأذان والإقامة" [Survivor of Homs Mosque Bombing Recounts Moments of Terror Between Adhan and Iqama]. Al Jazeera Arabic (in Arabic). 26 December 2025. Archived from the original on 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  9. ↑ "Deadly bombing at mosque in Syria draws regional condemnation". CNN. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  10. 1 2 "أودى بحياة 8.. "أنصار السنة" تتبنى تفجير مسجد في حمص" [8 Killed… "Ansar al‑Sunnah" Claims Bombing of Mosque in Homs]. Al Arabiya (in Arabic). 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  11. ↑ "Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah claims Homs mosque bombing". Hawar News Agency. 26 December 2025. Archived from the original on 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  12. ↑ "قتلى في انفجار بمسجد علوي في حمص وتنديد رسمي وعربي واسع" [Deaths in Explosion at an Alawite Mosque in Homs and Widespread Official and Arab Condemnation]. DW News (in Arabic). 26 December 2025. Archived from the original on 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  13. ↑ "وزارة الخارجية: التفجير الإرهابي في مسجد بحمص محاولة يائسة لزعزعة الاستقرار وبث الفوضى" [Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Terrorist Bombing at Homs Mosque a Desperate Attempt to Undermine Stability and Spread Chaos]. Syrian Arab News Agency (in Arabic). 26 December 2025. Archived from the original on 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  14. ↑ "وزارة الأوقاف السورية: استهداف بيوت الله وروّادها هو استهداف مباشر للقيم الدينية والوطنية" [Syrian Ministry of Endowments: Targeting Houses of God and Worshippers Is a Direct Attack on Religious and National Values]. Syrian Arab News Agency (in Arabic). 26 December 2025. Archived from the original on 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  15. ↑ "وزير الداخلية: الأيادي الشريرة ستفشل في ضرب وحدة الشعب السوري" [Interior Minister: Evil Hands Will Fail to Harm the Unity of the Syrian People]. Syrian Arab News Agency (in Arabic). 26 December 2025. Archived from the original on 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  16. ↑ "وزير العدل: الإرهاب بكل أشكاله مرفوض وسيُواجَه بحزم وفق القانون" [Minister of Justice: Terrorism in All Its Forms Is Rejected and Will Be Firmly Addressed Under the Law]. Syrian Arab News Agency (in Arabic). 26 December 2025. Archived from the original on 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  17. ↑ "وزير الإعلام: بات واضحاً تلاقي الفلول والدواعش والعملاء لعرقلة مسار الدولة وزعزعة الاستقرار" [Minister of Information: Regime Remnants, ISIS, and Agents Are Converging to Undermine Stability]. Syrian Arab News Agency (in Arabic). 26 December 2025. Archived from the original on 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  18. ↑ "Explosion at Alawite mosque in Syria's Homs kills eight". Reuters. 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  19. ↑ "Local and regional condemnations for bombing a mosque in Homs, Syria". SyriacPress. 27 December 2025.
  20. ↑ "Bahrain condemns terrorist bombing in Syria". Bahrain News Agency. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  21. ↑ Çakırtekin, İlayda (26 December 2025). "France says Syria mosque blast aimed at destabilizing country". Anadolu Ajansı.
  22. ↑ "العراق يدين التفجير الإرهابي في حمص" [Iraq Condemns the Terrorist Bombing in Homs]. Syrian Arab News Agency (in Arabic). 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  23. ↑ "الأردن: ندين التفجير الإرهابي في مسجد بحمص". Syrian Arab News Agency. 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  24. ↑ "الكويت تدين التفجير الإرهابي في حمص". Syrian Arab News Agency (in Arabic). 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  25. ↑ "الرئيس اللبناني: ندين التفجير الإرهابي في حمص". Syrian Arab News Agency (in Arabic). 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  26. ↑ "Palestinian institutions condemn bombing targeting mosque in Homs, Syria". WAFA. 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  27. ↑ "قطر تدين تفجيراً إرهابياً استهدف مسجداً في مدينة حمص بسوريا". Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in Arabic). 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  28. ↑ "المملكة العربية السّعودية تدين التفجير الإرهابي في حمص". Syrian Arab News Agency (in Arabic). 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  29. ↑ "تركيا تدين التفجير الإرهابي في حمص". Syrian Arab News Agency (in Arabic). 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  30. ↑ "UAE Strongly Condemns Terrorist Bombing at Mosque in Homs, Syria". UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  31. ↑ "أمين عام جامعة الدول العربية يدين التفجير الإرهابي في حمص". Syrian Arab News Agency (in Arabic). 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  32. ↑ "مجلس التعاون الخليجي: ندين التفجير الإرهابي في حمص". Syrian Arab News Agency (in Arabic). 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  33. ↑ "رابطة العالم الإسلامي تندد بالتفجير الإرهابي لمسجد في حمص". Syrian Arab News Agency (in Arabic). 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  34. ↑ "UN chief says those behind 'unacceptable' Homs attack must face justice". Arab News. 27 December 2025.
  35. ↑ "Clashes erupt in Syria as Alawite minority protests deadly Homs mosque bombing". France 24. 28 December 2025. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
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