Blast Rocks Cafe in Syrian Capital, Killing 9

A deadly explosion rocked a cafe in central Damascus, the Syrian capital, on Thursday (2/7) local time. At least nine people were killed and dozens more injured in the blast.

Syria’s Health Ministry told Alikhbaria TV, as reported by Anadolu Agency and Reuters on Friday (3/7/2026), that in addition to the nine fatalities, 20 other people were wounded in the incident.

Videos circulating on social media showed injured people and blood spattered on the floor of the cafe, which is believed to be the site struck by the explosion.

Ahmed Bakour, director of the ambulance department at Syria’s Health Ministry, said all the wounded had been rushed to several hospitals in the capital.

The explosion reportedly occurred while the cafe was crowded with patrons.

A report by an Alikhbaria TV correspondent stated the blast was suspected to have been caused by explosives planted inside the cafe, located on Al-Nasr Street near the Palace of Justice in central Damascus.

Damascus Governor Maher Idlibi separately said the explosion was triggered by a simple improvised bomb.

No group or party has yet claimed responsibility for the explosion. A thorough investigation by Syrian authorities is ongoing.

The blast poses a new security challenge for the Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who assumed power after overthrowing former President Bashar al-Assad in late 2024. Assad’s removal effectively ended a civil war that lasted more than 14 years in Syria.

Since Al-Sharaa took leadership, Syria has experienced a string of security incidents, including a car bomb attack that killed a Syrian soldier and wounded at least 18 people outside the Ministry of Defence building last May.

Although no group has yet claimed responsibility for Thursday’s (3/7) explosion, Islamic State (ISIS) is known to be seeking to exploit the security vacuum left by Assad’s fall by reactivating its sleeper cells, recruiting fighters, and moving weaponry amid the new government’s efforts to extend its authority across all Syrian territory.