Mourners in Damascus bury cafe bomb blast victims as officials promise justice

Mourners in Damascus gathered on Friday, July 3, 2026, to bury victims of a bomb blast that killed 10 people the previous day in a cafe near the capital's main courthouse. The explosion also wounded 21 others. The funeral procession, held in the Midan neighbourhood, carried the coffins of three victims.

Officials have vowed to arrest those responsible for the attack, but no updates on the investigation have been released, and no group has claimed responsibility. Bahaa Qabbani, whose brother Fathi Qabbani was killed in the blast, described the perpetrators as "terrorists against the homeland" and urged security forces to act decisively.

Despite the lack of immediate claims of responsibility, many observers were quick to blame loyalists of former President Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted in an insurgent offensive in December 2024. Some mourners chanted for the execution of "remnants of the former regime."

In a separate incident on Friday, Syria's state-run news agency SANA reported that three members of the security forces were wounded in an attack on a checkpoint at the entrance to the Damascus suburb of Jaramana. A man on a motorcycle reportedly threw two hand grenades at guards before a third grenade exploded in his hand, killing him. SANA also reported the arrest of another individual in connection with the Jaramana attack.

Since the overthrow of the al-Assad dynasty, Syria's new leadership has faced challenges in maintaining control and combating extremist groups, including the so-called Islamic State, which has targeted religious minorities with attacks.