Mourners gathered in Damascus on Friday to bury victims of a bomb blast that tore through a cafe near the city's main judicial complex a day earlier. The explosion, which killed 10 people and wounded 21 others, struck a popular spot frequented by lawyers in the normally bustling Midan neighbourhood.
Syria's Health Ministry revised the death toll upward from nine to 10 on Friday. Officials have promised to arrest those behind the attack, but no updates on the investigation have been announced.
Bahaa Qabbani, whose brother Fathi Qabbani was killed in the blast, described the perpetrators as “a group of terrorists who are against the homeland.” He called on security forces to “take hold of the country with an iron fist.” Fathi, a married father of one, worked at a shop near the explosion site and was passing by the cafe at the moment of the blast.
During the funeral procession, some mourners chanted, “The people want remnants of the former regime to be executed.” Although no group has claimed responsibility, many quickly blamed loyalists of former President Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted in an insurgent offensive in December 2024.
Security Challenges Persist
Also on Friday, Syria's state-run news agency SANA reported that three members of security forces were wounded in an attack on a checkpoint at the entrance to the Damascus suburb of Jaramana. A man on a motorcycle threw two hand grenades at the guards and attempted to throw a third, which exploded in his hand, killing him. Another person was arrested in connection with the attack, SANA added.
Since overthrowing the al-Assad dynasty, Syria's new rulers have struggled to exert control across the country and to check extremist groups. Deadly attacks blamed on the so-called Islamic State group have targeted religious minorities, including a suicide attack on a church in a Damascus suburb and a bomb set off in a mosque in a predominantly Alawite area in the city of Homs.
The violence underscores the fragility of Syria's post-war order, as the country's new authorities attempt to consolidate power while facing persistent security threats. The European Union has maintained a cautious stance, offering humanitarian aid but refraining from full diplomatic recognition of the new government until it demonstrates a commitment to inclusive governance and human rights.
For European policymakers, the situation in Syria remains a source of concern, particularly regarding the potential for further destabilisation that could trigger new migration flows toward Europe. The EU has funded stabilisation projects in neighbouring countries, but direct engagement with Damascus remains limited.
