An explosion has killed at least eight people and injured 18 others during Friday prayers inside a mosque in the Syrian city of Homs, the health ministry has reported.
Images from Syria's state-run news agency, Sana, depict the aftermath at the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque, showing scorched walls, shattered windows, and blood on the carpet.
Authorities suspect an explosive device was detonated within the mosque. Jihadist group Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The mosque is located in the Wadi al-Dhahab neighbourhood, predominantly inhabited by the Alawite ethnoreligious community.
Syria's Foreign Ministry has denounced the incident as a terrorist crime, stating that the cowardly act is a blatant assault on human and moral values aimed at destabilizing the country.
Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah claims the attack was conducted in conjunction with an unidentified group, utilizing explosives planted at the location.
The group's murky history and affiliations have led to speculation regarding its ties to the Islamic State group, noting similarities in messaging and target selection.
This latest attack follows a period of relative quiet from Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah, which previously engaged in targeted killings of minorities and actions against remnants of the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad.
The incident underscores ongoing tensions within Syria, particularly in light of sectarian violence that has escalated following the fall of Assad's regime. Alawites, who make up one of the country's significant religious minorities, fear reprisals as the situation remains volatile.
In March, reports surfaced of security forces allegedly killing numerous Alawites in the coastal province of Latakia.
Additional reporting by BBC Monitoring
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