In a heart-wrenching scene in Homs, Syria, hundreds of mourners recently gathered despite bitter rain and cold, outside the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque. Their assembly followed a devastating bombing that claimed eight lives and wounded eighteen, leaving a community reeling.
The attack, which preliminary investigations suggest involved explosive devices planted inside the mosque, deeply scarred the Wadi al-Dhahab neighbourhood, home to a predominantly Alawite population. As convoys prepared to bury the victims, the air was heavy with grief.
A little-known group, Saraya Ansar al-Sunna, swiftly claimed responsibility via Telegram. Their statement indicated the attack specifically targeted the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shia Islam. This isn’t their first act of terror; the same group previously attacked a Greek Orthodox church in Damascus, killing 25 worshippers.
A neighbour, identified as Abu Ahmad, recalled the “very very strong explosion” that shattered the peace. He rushed to the scene to find terrified people fleeing, and joined others in trying to help the wounded amidst blood and scattered body parts. Despite the specific targeting, he emphasized that the mosque had always been a “house of God,” open to all sects for prayer.
Unable to enter the cordoned-off mosque, mourners prayed outside, many chanting “Ya Ali” in a powerful display of faith and solidarity, demonstrating unity in the face of division.
