UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Dec. 26 condemned that day's deadly mosque bombing in Syria, urging that those responsible be swiftly identified and brought to justice. The explosion tore through the Ali Bin Abi Talib mosque in the Wadi al-Dahab neighborhood of Homs during Friday prayers, killing at least eight people and injuring around 20, according to Syrian authorities. The mosque serves members of the Alawite minority.

In a statement issued by his office, Guterres said he "unequivocally condemns" the bombing, stressing that "attacks against civilians and places of worship are unacceptable"  He noted that Syrian authorities have also condemned the attack, and reaffirmed their commitment to combat terrorism and hold perpetrators accountable. The Secretary-General extended condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a prompt and full recovery.

A group calling itself Ansar al-Sunna, a splinter of the Islamic State (ISIS), claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had coordinated with "mujahideen from another group" to detonate explosives inside the mosque. The group has previously claimed responsibility for the June 22 suicide bombing at Mar Elias church in Damascus that left 25 people dead, raising concerns about a pattern of attacks on religious sites across sectarian lines.

Syria's Interior Ministry said it has cordoned off the area around the mosque in Homs, and begun collecting evidence to "prosecute the perpetrators of this criminal act," while the Foreign Ministry denounced the bombing as a "cowardly criminal act" aimed at undermining security and spreading chaos.

Under international humanitarian law and customary norms, intentional attacks on civilians and on buildings dedicated to religion are prohibited and may constitute war crimes when carried out in the context of armed conflict. Syria remains bound by its obligations under international human rights law to protect the right to life, safeguard freedom of religion, and ensure the security of minority communities.

From JURIST, Dec. 28. Used with permission. Internal links added.

Note: There have been various jihadist formations that go by the name Ansar al-Sunna in different countries, but it is unclear if they are organizationally linked.