Explosion in Homs Mosque Claims Lives of Eight Worshippers

At least eight individuals have lost their lives and more than 18 others have been injured following an explosion at a mosque in Homs, Syria, as reported by local officials. The incident occurred during Friday prayers at the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque, located in the Wadi al-Dahab neighbourhood.

Footage verified by Al Jazeera depicted scenes of chaos, with worshippers fleeing the mosque in panic. Emergency responders were seen carrying victims on stretchers and assisting others wrapped in cloaks into ambulances.

The explosion appears to have originated in a corner of the mosque's main prayer hall, resulting in a small crater in the wall and severe damage to the surrounding area. Prayer carpets were torn apart, and debris, including books and fragments, was scattered across the floor.

Local officials informed the Reuters news agency that the blast might have been caused by either a suicide bomber or explosives that had been planted in advance. The Syrian Interior Ministry confirmed that security forces had cordoned off the area and initiated an investigation into the incident.

Ayman Oghanna, a correspondent for Al Jazeera who visited the explosion site, remarked that the attack seems intended to incite sectarian tensions within Homs, a city known for its religious diversity. "Government forces are surrounding the mosque and an investigation team has gone inside," he stated.

The group Saraya Ansar al-Sunna has claimed responsibility for the attack, threatening that their violent actions will "continue and escalate." Rob Geist Pinfold, a lecturer in international security at King's College London, noted that the assault exemplifies the ongoing brutal tactics employed by groups aiming to maintain instability in Syria. Geist pointed out that Saraya Ansar al-Sunna is a violent organisation closely linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

"Their strategy involves targeting minority groups to provoke tension and render Syria ungovernable," he added.

Syria's government has condemned the attack, labelling it a part of a series of attempts to undermine the country's security and stability. The Foreign Ministry reiterated Syria's commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms, asserting that remnants of previous regimes and ISIL militants are converging to obstruct the path of the new state.

The attack highlights the fragile security situation in Syria, particularly in the aftermath of the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad's government. Authorities in Damascus continue to struggle with asserting control over various regions.

In a related development, the United States conducted airstrikes against ISIL positions in Syria last week, following the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter. In November, the Syrian government joined a global coalition against ISIL, pledging to eliminate the remaining elements of the group.

As the situation unfolds, local authorities have heightened security measures around the mosque and surrounding areas to prevent further threats and to gather evidence related to the attack. The identities and backgrounds of the victims have yet to be formally verified, as the investigation continues.