Shia cleric injured in explosion near Damascus shrine: Report

A prominent Shia preacher was critically injured on Friday in a grenade explosion near the Sayyida Zaynab shrine south of Damascus, according to the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

The Britain-based monitor said the attack targeted Farhan Mansour, a member of the Shia sect’s scholarly body and a Friday sermon preacher.

According to the monitor, the attack occurred after Mansour left the shrine. Sources cited by SOHR said a hand grenade was thrown into his car near the Safir al-Zahra hotel.

The explosion left Mansour with “very critical injuries,” and he was taken to a hospital, with his fate still unknown. Security forces later imposed a strict cordon around the site of the blast, the monitor added.

State media, citing Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militants, confirmed that a grenade attack had taken place in the area and said investigations were underway to identify the suspect. It did not report any casualties or injuries.

The attaclk comes amid rising sectarian tensions in Syria since the fall of former president Bashar Assad in late 2024. Minority communities have faced increasing violence, including targeted massacres of Alawites and deadly clashes in Druze-majority areas.

Religious sites have also been targeted. In June, the Mar Elias Church in Damascus was hit in a bombing attack.

The Sayyida Zaynab shrine, located south of the capital, is among the most important Shia holy sites. It is believed to house the tomb of Zaynab, the granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad and daughter of Imam Ali (peace be upon them).

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