Blast at Damascus Cafe Kills at Least Nine Near Justice Palace
DAMASCUS — July 2, 2026 — An explosion at a crowded cafe near the Palace of Justice in the Syrian capital killed at least nine people and wounded 20 others on Thursday, July 2, according to Syria’s Interior Ministry, in a major security breach that underscores the persistent instability facing the country’s new leadership .
The blast occurred at a cafe in the Hejaz district, approximately 100 meters (330 feet) from the capital’s main courthouse complex, an area frequently visited by legal professionals and citizens handling administrative matters .
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Syrian authorities confirmed the explosion was caused by a crudely made improvised explosive device (IED), weighing roughly one kilogram and packed with metal shrapnel to maximize casualties .
No Immediate Claim of Responsibility
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the blast presents another security challenge for the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took power after overthrowing Bashar al-Assad in late 2024 . The Islamic State (IS) group, which has previously targeted the new administration, has sought to exploit the post-war security vacuum and remains one of the biggest threats to Syria’s transition, according to officials .
Jalal Aljanani, owner of a restaurant next door, told the Associated Press he ran toward the cafe upon hearing the explosion and helped carry victims until police arrived, his shirt soaked in blood .
Emergency services rushed the injured to local hospitals for treatment. Damascus Governor Maher Marwan, who visited the scene, stated that “those who committed this act of terrorism and those behind them will be brought to justice,” while vowing to strengthen security in the capital .
The explosion follows a series of security incidents in Damascus since the fall of the Assad regime, including a car bomb in May that killed a soldier and wounded 18 near the defense ministry, and a suicide attack on a church that killed 25 people last year .
SOURCES / INPUTS
- Dunya News: Blast at Damascus cafe kills nine, wounds 20, Syrian interior ministry says
- Vietnam.vn: Deadly bombing at a cafe in Syria leaves at least 9 dead
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