The unrest began after an explosion ripped through an Alawite mosque in the city of Homs during prayers on Friday, killing eight worshippers and injuring at least 18 others. The attack sent shockwaves through the minority Alawite community and quickly escalated into widespread protests and clashes across parts of the country.
Two days after the bombing, violence erupted in Homs on Sunday when Alawite demonstrators confronted opposing groups, resulting in at least three deaths and dozens of injuries, according to local health officials. Hospitals reported treating scores of wounded people as chaos spread through the city.
Large demonstrations were also reported in coastal and western regions, including Latakia and Tartus, where thousands of protesters gathered in response to the mosque attack. Syrian state television reported that unidentified assailants hurled a hand grenade at a police station in the Tartus area, wounding two security personnel. In Latakia, several security vehicles were set ablaze amid escalating confrontations.
Syria’s state news agency SANA later confirmed that one member of the security forces was killed in a separate shooting incident linked to the unrest. Health authorities said at least three people were killed and around 60 others injured during the clashes across affected areas.
Preliminary investigations by Syrian officials indicated that explosive devices had been planted inside the Homs mosque ahead of Friday’s blast. While authorities have not publicly identified suspects, a little-known group calling itself Saraya Ansar al-Sunna claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on its Telegram channel. The group suggested that the bombing was intended to target members of the Alawite sect.
Funerals for the mosque attack victims were held on Saturday, drawing large crowds and further heightening tensions. Sunday’s demonstrations were reportedly called by Alawite cleric Ghazal Ghazal, who resides abroad and heads the Supreme Alawite Islamic Council.
According to an Associated Press photographer present in Latakia, counter-protesters supportive of the government threw stones at Alawite demonstrators, prompting security forces to intervene. Officers attempted to separate the rival groups and fired shots into the air to disperse crowds, as violence spilled into surrounding streets.
The latest bloodshed underscores the fragility of security in Syria and the persistent threat of sectarian violence, particularly when attacks on religious sites inflame long-standing communal divisions. As authorities continue investigations and attempt to restore order, the incident has raised fresh concerns about stability and the protection of minority communities in the war-scarred nation.
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