Gunmen kill seven civilians and wound at least four in Syria bus attack

On Wednesday, gunmen launched an attack on a bus in Syria, resulting in the deaths of at least seven civilians and injuries to four others, according to state media. The assault occurred as the bus traversed the Masyaf Bridge in the western region of Homs province, with the assailants subsequently wounding four individuals onboard.

The official Sana news agency reported on the incident, stating that an investigation was underway to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. All victims were civilians and employees of a company whose vehicle transported them home after their workday. Emergency responders swiftly transported the injured to local hospitals, while security forces began their investigation at the scene, where evidence of the attack was evident with visible bloodstains and broken glass inside the bus.

Brig Gen Bassem Mohammad Shaaban, commander of the Homs Internal Security Forces, condemned the "cowardly attack" as an attempt to undermine the security of Homs and destabilize the region. He vowed that the perpetrators would face justice. Following the departure of the Assad regime in December 2024, Syrian authorities have faced challenges in preserving security amid more than a decade of civil war.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, noted that all victims were Alawites and expressed concerns among Alawites and other Syrian minorities, despite assurances from Islamist authorities. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and no specific group has claimed responsibility. The Syrian authorities did not disclose any names of suspects or affiliated groups.

This attack follows another explosion that occurred earlier on Wednesday at a gas pipeline at the Tishreen plant, halting gas supply to the plant's operations. Two individuals sustained injuries in the explosion, with the Syrian Civil Defence reporting that the fire had been brought under control and the site entering the cooling-down phase.

Despite the government's efforts to thwart planned attacks and disrupt armed cells, incidents of deadly shootings and explosions continue in the capital, Damascus, and other areas.