Syria arrests ISIS commander linked to Homs mosque bombing

ISIS commander arrest Homs mosque bombing Syrian security operations Khaled Raed Birouni sectarian violence

Syrian security forces have arrested Khaled Raed Birouni, also known by the alias ‘Abu Hassan Doshka’, in the town of Hajira within the Damascus countryside. The Syrian Interior Ministry identified Birouni as the general military commander for ISIS in the Homs province and described him as the group’s ‘executive arm’ in the region.

Birouni is accused of planning and overseeing several terrorist activities, including sectarian attacks and the use of explosive devices. Specifically, authorities link him to the December 26, 2025, bombing of the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque in the Wadi al-Dhahab neighborhood of Homs. That attack, which occurred during Friday prayers in a predominantly Alawite area, resulted in eight deaths and 18 injuries.

The arrest was the result of a coordinated operation between the General Intelligence Service and the Internal Security Command. While Syrian authorities attribute the mosque bombing to ISIS, the militant group Saraya Ansar Al-Sunna had previously claimed responsibility, stating they targeted the Alawite community. Investigations into Birouni’s activities and connections are ongoing.

Entities

Al-Imam Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque · Homs · ISIS · Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque · Khaled Raed Berouni · Khaled Raed Birouni · Syrian Interior Ministry · Syrian Ministry of Interior

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 4 SOURCES] The mosque bombing killed 8 people and injured 18 others. alsaudi.news · www.syrianow.net · arabic.euronews.com · www.arabnews.pk
[● 6 SOURCES] Birouni served as the general military commander for ISIS in the Homs province. alsaudi.news · www.syrianow.net · sarabic.ae · arabic.euronews.com · www.arabnews.pk
[● 5 SOURCES] The operation was conducted by the General Intelligence Service and the Internal Security Command in Rural Damascus. alsaudi.news · www.syrianow.net · sarabic.ae · arabic.euronews.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The group Saraya Ansar Al-Sunna claimed responsibility for the mosque bombing, targeting members of the Alawite community. www.arabnews.pk
[● 6 SOURCES] Birouni is accused of planning and overseeing the December 26, 2025, bombing of the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque. alsaudi.news · www.syrianow.net · sarabic.ae · arabic.euronews.com · www.arabnews.pk
[● 6 SOURCES] Khaled Raed Birouni, also known as ‘Abu Hassan Doshka’, was arrested in Hajira, Rural Damascus. alsaudi.news · www.syrianow.net · sarabic.ae · arabic.euronews.com · www.arabnews.pk