Syria: Homs Mosque Bombing Kills 6, Wounds 21 Amid Rising Tensions

• A bombing at the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque in Homs, Syria, on Friday (December 26) during prayers killed at least six people and wounded 21.
• The mosque is located in the predominantly Alawite Wadi al-Dhahab neighborhood of Homs, Syria’s third-largest city.
• Preliminary investigations by SANA suggest explosive devices were planted inside the mosque, with authorities searching for perpetrators.
• The attack underscores rising sectarian, ethnic, and political tensions across Syria, despite a decrease in large-scale fighting.
• Recent weeks have also seen clashes between Syrian government forces and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in Aleppo, leading to a temporary ceasefire.

Why It Matters: Homs mosque bombing highlights Syria's escalating sectarian tensions and ongoing instability.