Damage pictured Friday after an explosion at the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque in the Wadi al-Dahab neighborhood of Homs, western Syria. Ambulances rushed victims during Friday prayers as security forces sealed off the area and began an investigation. Photo Provided by Ahmad Fallaha/EPA
A bombing struck the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque in Homs, Syria, on Friday killing six people and injuring 21.
Ambulances rushed victims from the Wadi al-Dahab neighborhood during Friday prayers as security forces sealed off the area and began an investigation.
Syria’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the terrorist explosion.
Though no group officially claimed responsibility, online posts linked the attack to the extremist faction Ansar al-Sunna.
Ansar al-Sunna previously threatened Alawite-majority regions in Homs, Tartus and Latakia.
The explosion followed weeks of unrest in Homs including the recent killing of a Bedouin couple that fueled sectarian tension and led to curfews across the city.
Authorities intensified security nationwide for Christmas celebrations with operations continuing against Islamic State cells around Damascus and other areas.
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Former President Joe Biden presents the Presidential Citizens Medal to Liz Cheney during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, on January 2, 2025. The Presidential Citizens Medal is bestowed to individuals who have performed exemplary deeds or services. Photo by Will Oliver/UPI | License Photo
