Syria: Bomb blast at Damascus cafe kills several

Syria: Bomb blast at Damascus cafe kills several July 2, 2026A bomb went off at a crowded cafe in central Damascus, killing at least five people and wounding 16 others. According to Syrian state TV, an explosive device had been planted at the cafe near the Palace of Justice in the center of Syria's capital. Security forces cordoned off the area where the blast occurred as ambulances rushed to the scene. Mohammed al-Zahabi, the owner of a shop next to the targeted cafe, told the AFP news agency that "after the blast, I felt strong pressure, and the whole place shook." "I ran to the place and saw people lying on the floor with blood pooled around them everywhere," he added. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Uneasy situation in Damascus Since former-President Bashar al-Assad was toppled in late 2024, Damascus has been hit by multiple attacks. In an effort to prevent violence in and around the capital, Syria's new rulers have cracked down on "Islamic State" militants. The deadliest attack occurred in June of 2025, when 25 people were killed in an attack on a Damascus church. A Sunni Islamist group later claimed responsibility for the suicide attack. On May 19, a car bomb exploded outside a Defense Ministry building in Damascus, killing one Syrian soldier and wounding at least 18 others. Edited by: Sean Sinico