This week, bombings at mosques in Syria and Nigeria led to numerous deaths and injuries, with both attacks occurring during religious services to maximize their impact.
In Syria, a bombing at the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque in Homs resulted in at least eight fatalities and 18 injuries on Friday. This mosque caters to the Alawite community, situated in an area predominantly inhabited by Alawites.
The Alawite sect, a Shiite Muslim minority, gained significant influence in Syria under the leadership of Hafez and Bashar al-Assad. Following Bashar al-Assad’s ousting in December 2024, there has been a growing fear among Alawites regarding potential reprisals and violent attacks. Some factions within the Syrian government accuse Alawites of loyalty to the Assad family and plotting against the new administration.
State media in Syria released images post-attack that depicted blood-stained carpets, damaged walls, and shattered windows, suggesting the explosion had occurred inside the mosque.
According to reports, the explosion seemed to originate from a corner of the mosque’s main prayer hall, damaging the prayer rug and scattering debris around the floor. Security officials speculated that it could have been a suicide bombing.
Local authorities condemned the incident, describing it as a desperate attempt to undermine safety and create unrest among the Syrian populace.
“Elements of the previous regime, along with ISIS and their networks, seem to be working together, aiming to destabilize the nation and threaten the civil peace that Syrians have cherished throughout history,” the Ministry of Information stated.
Meanwhile, a group called Saraya Ansar al-Sunna (SAS), reportedly a splinter faction of the Islamic State, claimed responsibility for the bombing as detailed in a social media announcement. This group had also claimed responsibility for a prior devastating suicide attack in a Damascus church that resulted in 25 deaths.
Experts noted that SAS previously belonged to a rebel-jihadist coalition known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) but departed due to disagreements regarding the treatment of former Assad officials and attitudes toward non-Islamic beliefs.
In Nigeria, another explosion occurred at the Al-Adum Mosque in Maiduguri, resulting in at least five fatalities and over 35 injuries on Wednesday night.
A witness described the situation during prayer at the mosque when the bomb went off, expressing confusion about the specifics of the occurrence. Meanwhile, police recovered items believed to be connected to a suicide vest from the attack site.
Nigeria has long been plagued by violent Islamist groups. Among them, Boko Haram is notorious for executing suicide bombings, including high-profile kidnapping incidents.
Boko Haram gained international attention following the abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls in 2014 and has since pledged allegiance to ISIS, although internal divisions have led to the formation of a new faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Both Boko Haram and ISWAP have been engaged in conflict since 2009, attempting to carve out an Islamic “caliphate” in northeastern Nigeria and nearby areas, resulting in substantial loss of life and displacement of millions. Maiduguri, while relatively stable since 2021, still faces daily threats from terrorist activities.
