Archive · 29 Dec 2025
Alawites Protest After Deadly Mosque Bombing in Syria
In Syria, a group called the Alawites is protesting after a bombing in their mosque killed eight people.
The Alawites are a minority group, and they are worried about their safety since the country's leader, Bashar al-Assad, was removed from power.
They are asking for their own regional government and for the violence against them to stop.
The protests happened in several cities, and some people were hurt in clashes.
The Alawites are also asking for people who were arrested to be freed.
The new leaders of Syria, who are Islamists, have not agreed to give the Alawites their own region yet.
A group called Saraya Ansar al-Sunna said they did the bombing, but the authorities haven't caught anyone yet.
A mosque bombing in Homs killed eight Alawites, sparking protests across Syria's coastal and central regions.
Protesters demanded federalism, regional autonomy, and an end to sectarian violence, carrying banners and photos of community leader Ghazal Ghazal.
Clashes occurred between demonstrators and supporters of Syria’s new Islamist authorities, with at least four dead and dozens injured in Homs, Latakia, and Jableh.
The Alawite community has faced increased violence and threats since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
Protesters also demanded the release of detainees, with 70 people freed in Latakia, and more releases promised.
- Who
- Alawite community in Syria, including protesters and community leader Ghazal Ghazal
- What
- Protests following a mosque bombing that killed eight people and subsequent clashes
- When
- Protests occurred on Sunday, 28th December, 2025, following the attack on Friday, 26th December, 2025
- Where
- Coastal and central regions of Syria, including Homs, Latakia, and Jableh
- Why
- To demand federalism, regional autonomy, and an end to sectarian violence, as well as to express frustration and fear under Syria’s new Islamist authorities
Alawite Protesters
Counterdemonstrators and Security Forces
Demands for Autonomy and Safety
Alawite Protesters
Alawite protesters demand federalism, regional autonomy, and an end to sectarian violence, citing increased threats and violence since the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
Counterdemonstrators and Security Forces
Counterdemonstrators and security forces oppose these demands, leading to clashes and violence.
- Date of Attack
- Friday, 26th December, 2025
- Location of Attack
- Imam Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque, Wadi al-Dhahab neighborhood, Homs, Syria
- Casualties
- 8 killed, 18 injured in the mosque bombing; at least 4 killed and dozens injured in subsequent protests
- Protest Demands
- Federalism, regional autonomy, end to sectarian violence, release of detainees
- Community Leader
- Ghazal Ghazal, head of the Supreme Alawite Islamic Council in Syria and the Diaspora
- Recent Violence
- Massacres in coastal areas, death toll estimates ranging from 1,426 to 1,700
- Detainees Released
- 70 people freed in Latakia
- Claimed Responsibility
- Saraya Ansar al-Sunna, a little-known group, claimed responsibility for the mosque bombing
