Guterres condemns the bombing of the Homs mosque and demands that the perpetrators be held accountable
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the cowardly terrorist attack on a mosque in the Syrian city of Homs, specifically the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque, which resulted in numerous civilian casualties, both dead and wounded. This statement reaffirms the United Nations' unwavering stance against all forms of violence targeting innocent civilians and places of worship in conflict zones.
An urgent call for justice
In an official statement issued by his spokesperson, Guterres stressed the need for a transparent and urgent investigation to identify those responsible for this criminal act and bring them to justice. The Secretary-General emphasized that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, including mosques and places of worship, constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and cannot be justified under any pretext. Guterres also offered his deepest condolences to the bereaved families of the victims, wished a speedy recovery to the injured, and expressed the United Nations' solidarity with the Syrian people during this ordeal.
Targeting places of worship in international law
This condemnation is particularly significant in the context of international law, as deliberate attacks on buildings dedicated to religious purposes constitute war crimes under the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols. Observers note that the recurrence of such incidents undermines confidence-building efforts necessary to advance the political process in Syria. The protection of holy sites and civilians remains a top priority for the international community, which continues to call on all parties to ensure the protection of civilians from armed conflict.
The security context in Homs and the challenges to stability
This incident comes at a time when Homs, once a major conflict zone, is experiencing relative stability compared to the early years of the war. However, such a bombing underscores the ongoing security challenges and the continued fragility of the situation on the ground in some parts of Syria. Experts warn that sleeper cells of terrorist organizations still pose a real threat to civil peace, attempting to destabilize the region and spread fear among civilians.
The international stance and the future of a political solution
This attack reaffirms the urgent need to reach a comprehensive political solution to the Syrian crisis in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2254. The international community believes that eliminating terrorism once and for all requires concerted international and local efforts, not only through security solutions, but also by addressing the political and social roots of the crisis, to ensure that such tragedies, for which innocent civilians pay the price, are not repeated.
