At least 12 people were killed and 25 others wounded in an attack on the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib mosque in the Syrian city of Homs during Friday prayers. Images released by the state-run SANA agency showed bloodstains on the mosque's carpets, broken windows and fire damage. The mosque is located in the Wad al-Dhahab neighborhood, a predominantly Alawite area.
SANA, citing a security source, reported that preliminary investigations indicate that explosive devices were placed inside the mosque. Syrian authorities have set up a security cordon around the facility and are searching for those responsible for the attack. The incident comes at a time of heightened sectarian and political tensions in the country.
Syria has experienced repeated waves of sectarian clashes since the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad last year, and while major fighting has subsided, instability remains due to ethnic and political divisions. The latest attacks reinforce concerns about the safety of religious communities and the humanitarian situation in the country.
