An explosive device planted on a minibus detonated in a Druze-populated area outside Damascus on Thursday night, killing two people and injuring 14 others, according to Syrian officials.
A bomb planted aboard a minibus in Jaramana, a predominantly Druze district on the outskirts of Damascus, detonated Thursday evening, claiming at least two lives and injuring 14 people. Security officials cited by state media attributed the blast to an explosive device placed on the vehicle. Images from the scene depicted the charred remains of a white minibus being removed from the location.
Witnesses described harrowing moments following the explosion. Samer Abbas, a nearby clothing shop owner, recalled the force of the blast and his immediate concern for his son's safety. At a Damascus hospital treating victims, Bassel Imad described the incident as deliberate and cruel, noting his cousin was driving the minibus when it exploded. The targeted street in Jaramana is narrow and densely populated with shops and vendors, raising concerns about civilian impact.
The bombing occurs against a backdrop of escalating tensions within Syria's Druze community. Factions within the religious minority have engaged in clashes with the country's new Islamist-led government. A United Nations investigation completed in March documented over 1,700 deaths in the southern Sweida province during July 2025, predominantly among civilian members of the Druze sect and some Bedouin community members. The U.N. report indicated that Syrian government forces, tribal fighters, and Druze armed groups may have perpetrated war crimes during those incidents.
