The cell responsible for planting the mosque explosives was dismantled in January, while the Interior Ministry believes Bayrouni's arrest will help uncover a wider operative network. ISIS has targeted minorities and government-affiliated sites since the fall of Assad to destabilize the transition. Security sources identify southern Damascus as a hub for ISIS cells following the movement of fighters from the Badia to urban areas on December 8, 2024.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
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Syria Arrests Top ISIS Commander Who Led Bombing That Killed 8
War14 days ago
Khaled Raed Bayrouni, the chief military officer for ISIS in the Homs region, was captured by security forces in Hujaira, a district near Damascus, according to the Syrian Interior Ministry. Bayrouni, also known as Abu Hassan Dushka, is accused of orchestrating the December 26, 2025, IED bombing of the Ali ibn Abi Talib mosque in Homs's Wadi Dahab neighborhood, which killed 8 people, including a child. Authorities stated that he was also planning additional attacks based on sectarian motivations.
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