January 12, 2026 l By Stephen — Dalena Reporters
DAMASCUS, Syria — Syrian security forces announced on Monday the arrest of two members of the Islamic State (IS) group, whom authorities allege were responsible for the December 26, 2025 bombing of the Imam Ali Bin Abi Talib Mosque in the Alawite-majority Wadi Al-Dahab neighbourhood of Homs.
In an official statement released by the Syrian Interior Ministry, the individuals identified as Ahmed Attallah Al-Diab and Anas Al-Zarrad were described as operatives of the Daesh terrorist organisation and directly linked to the deadly blast that shook worshippers and residents on what was meant to be a night of calm.
The December attack on the mosque, which sits in one of Homs’s sensitive socio-ethnic districts, drew widespread condemnation from local leaders and human rights advocates, underscoring ongoing concerns about the resurgence of IS-linked violence in pockets of war-torn Syria. Security analysts have noted that despite major territorial defeats for Islamic State factions in recent years, sleeper cells and extremist affiliates continue to exploit security gaps in central and eastern provinces.
Syrian authorities have not publicly detailed the evidence leading to the suspects’ arrest, nor have they specified whether additional detentions are expected as part of the investigation. However, the ministry’s announcement framed the operation as a decisive breakthrough in efforts to hold perpetrators of high-profile terror incidents to account.
The motive behind the mosque bombing remains under review by Syrian security services. Local civil society groups have argued that such attacks not only target civilians but also aim to inflame sectarian tensions, complicating fragile reconciliation and stability efforts in communities long devastated by conflict.
This development comes against a broader backdrop of regional security pressures, where displacement, armed group activity and political fragmentation continue to challenge governance and restore public confidence across parts of Syria.
As the investigation continues, analysts caution that dismantling extremist networks will require sustained cooperation among regional security stakeholders and enhanced intelligence operations to prevent future attacks that threaten civilian lives and sectarian harmony.