Syria: Mosque Blast in Homs Kills 8, Govt Blames Former Regime Remnants

At least eight people were killed and 18 others injured after a powerful explosion ripped through a mosque in the central Syrian city of Homs on Friday, triggering fresh concerns over security and sectarian violence in the war-ravaged country.

The blast struck the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque in the Wadi al-Dhahab neighbourhood during Friday prayers. Syrian authorities said the attack specifically targeted members of the Alawite minority, a community that has been repeatedly caught in cycles of violence during the country’s prolonged conflict.

According to officials, the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device planted inside the mosque. Images from the site showed a large crater in one of the walls, with debris scattered across the prayer hall, indicating the force of the blast.

Syria’s Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa condemned the attack, calling it a “desperate attempt” by remnants of the former Assad regime and Islamic State to undermine stability and obstruct what he described as “the path of the new state”.

“This act of terror will not derail efforts to restore order and rebuild the country,” the minister said in a statement, vowing that those responsible would be identified and held accountable.

Security forces cordoned off the area following the explosion, while emergency teams evacuated the injured to nearby hospitals. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine how the device was planted and whether additional suspects may be involved.

The attack comes amid continued volatility in parts of Syria, even as the government claims progress in restoring control and dismantling extremist networks. Friday’s blast underscores the persistent threat posed by militant violence and unresolved political fault lines across the country.