On July 2, 2026, an explosion occurred in a cafe located in the al-Marjah district of Damascus, Syria, resulting in the deaths of at least five individuals and injuring 16 others, as reported by the Syrian Ministry of Health. The blast took place shortly after 3 PM local time, near the Palace of Justice, where trials had recently been conducted for several members of the former government of President Bashar Assad. Authorities suspect that the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device planted under a table by an unidentified man who fled the scene towards the palace. In the aftermath of the explosion, security forces cordoned off the area due to fears of a potential second blast. The Syrian state media reported that armed security personnel and rescuers quickly arrived at the scene to assist the injured and secure the vicinity. This incident is part of a troubling trend in Damascus, which has experienced a series of attacks since jihadist leader Ahmed al-Sharaa took control of Syria in December 2024. The ongoing conflict has led to a resurgence of various armed groups, including ISIS and Druze militias, particularly in the regions surrounding the capital. While the identity of the perpetrators behind the cafe bombing remains unclear, the Syrian government, under the leadership of Governor Maher Marwan, has vowed to hold those responsible accountable. Marwan stated that the bloodshed of Syrians would not go unpunished and emphasized that such attacks would not undermine the stability of the Syrian state. The governor's remarks reflect the government's determination to maintain control and address the security challenges posed by the re-emergence of armed factions in the area. This bombing follows a recent car bomb attack outside a Defense Ministry building in Damascus, which resulted in the death of one Syrian soldier and injuries to at least 18 others. The frequency of these violent incidents highlights the precarious security situation in Syria, as the government continues to grapple with the threats posed by various militant groups and the ongoing instability in the region.
More than a dozen people were also injured in the blast, which took place near Syria’s Palace of Justice An explosion ripped through a cafe in the Syrian capital of Damascus on Thursday, killing at least five people and injuring 16, according to the Syrian Ministry of Health. Authorities believe that the blast was caused […]