In brief
In early July a bomb exploded in a café near the Palace of Justice in Damascus, killing six people and injuring dozens. Syrian state media reported no immediate claim of responsibility, heightening fears of renewed instability in a city still recovering from the civil war. Officials vowed retribution, while the incident echoed earlier attacks that have rattled the capital since the regime’s consolidation in 2024. The violent act underscores the fragile security situation that has plagued Syria's transition following the overthrow of Bashar al‑Assad and the rise of interim governance.
Syrian state media reported that a bomb exploded inside a café in the Hejaz district of Damascus, killing six people and injuring 22 others. The café, only 100 metres from the Palace of Justice, was a popular gathering spot for locals.
The interior ministry confirmed that the device had been planted inside the venue, but no group immediately claimed responsibility. The attack reminded residents of the barrage of violence that swept the city during the civil war.
This incident is the deadliest bombing in Damascus since a suicide attack on a church in June 2025, which killed 25 people. While a shadowy jihadist group termed Saraya Ansar al‑Sunnah claimed responsibility for the 2025 blast, officials blamed the Islamic State.
Mohammed al‑Dahabi, owner of a nearby glasses shop, described how the blast shook the area and left victims lying with blood pooled on the terrace. He said that the scene resembled attacks from the height of the civil war.
Graphic footage circulated on social media showed several victims on the café's outdoor terrace. Authorities have vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Damascus Governor Maher Marwan Idlibi said those responsible would be punished and warned that attempts at destabilisation occur whenever the country experiences a period of stability.
Since the fall of Bashar al‑Assad’s regime in December 2024, Damascus has seen sporadic attacks, challenging the interim government’s efforts to restore security and unite the country under its new leadership.
The attack marks another reminder that Syria’s road to peace and safety remains fraught with danger.
