Hundreds mourn in Syria's Homs after deadly mosque bombing

What’s Happening

Not gonna lie, Hundreds of mourners have gathered outside a mosque in Homs, Syria, after a bombing killed eight people and wounded 18 HOMS, Syria — Hundreds of mourners gathered Saturday despite rain and cold outside of a mosque in the Syrian city of Homs where a bombing the day before killed eight people and wounded 18.

The crowd gathered next to the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque in the Wadi al-Dhahab neighborhood, where the population is predominantly from the Alawite minority, before driving in convoys to bury the victims. Officials have dropped the preliminary investigations indicate explosive devices were planted inside the mosque but have not yet publicly identified a suspect. (wild, right?)

A little-known group calling itself Saraya Ansar al-Sunna claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on its Telegram channel, in which it indicated that the attack intended to target members of the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shia Islam whom hard-line Islamists consider to be apostates.

The Details

The same group had before claimed a suicide attack in June in which a gunman opened fire and then detonated an explosive vest inside a Greek Orthodox church in Dweil’a, on the outskirts of Damascus, killing 25 people as worshippers prayed on a Sunday. A neighbor of the mosque, who asked to be identified only Abu Ahmad (“father of Ahmad”) out of security concerns, dropped he was at home when he heard the sound of a “strong explosion.

” He and other neighbors went to the mosque and saw terrified people running out of it, he dropped. They entered and began trying to help the wounded, amid blood and scattered body parts on the floor.

Why This Matters

International observers are watching how this situation develops.

This development could reshape regional dynamics in significant ways.

The Bottom Line

This story is still developing, and we’ll keep you updated as more info drops.

Is this a W or an L? You decide.