Syria06 October, 20262 min read
Syria Arrests Khalid Raed Baironi, Accused of Ali Ibn Abi Talib Mosque Bombing in Homs
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Khaled Raed Birouni, aka Abu Hassan Doshka, arrested as ISIS military commander for Homs. Planned attacks in Homs, including December 2025 mosque bombing that killed eight.
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Homs mosque bombing suspect
Syrian authorities announced the arrest of Khalid Raed Baironi, nicknamed Abu Hasan Doshka, whom the Syrian Ministry of Interior accused of responsibility for the bombing of the Ali Ibn Abi Talib Mosque in the Wadi al-Dahab neighborhood of Homs in December 2025. The Ministry of Interior said the General Intelligence Directorate, in cooperation with the Internal Security Command in Rural Damascus Province, arrested the operational arm of ISIS in Homs during a security operation carried out in the town of Hajira in rural Damascus.
The Interior Ministry also accused the detainee of preparing and using explosive devices and organizing sectarian attacks, while investigations with him were described as ongoing. The Interior Ministry said eight people were killed in the December attack carried out in a neighborhood with a Shia majority in the city of Homs, and authorities announced in January the arrest of two people.
Competing claims of responsibility
Syrian authorities attributed the December 2025 mosque attack to the Islamic State, while a small Sunni group called ‘The Ansar al-Sunna Brigades’ claimed responsibility. Experts described ‘The Ansar al-Sunna Brigades’ as a front for the organization, and the attack sparked massive protests by members of the Shia community in Homs and other areas.
The Anadolu Ajansı report said the Interior Ministry accused the suspect, Khaled Raed Birouni, also known as Abu Hassan Dushka, of serving as the top military commander for ISIS’ self-proclaimed “Homs Province.” Anadolu Ajansı also said the Health Ministry reported that an explosive device detonated inside the mosque during Friday prayers, killing eight people and injuring 18.
Security drive and fallout
Syrian authorities framed the arrest as part of efforts to restore security and establish state control of weapons after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on Dec. 8, 2024.
Anadolu Ajansı said authorities sought to prevent attacks on civilians and security personnel through security campaigns against armed groups in various parts of the country.
The Ici Beyrouth report said the Ministry of the Interior presented the detainee as “responsible for organizing and supervising a large number of terrorist attacks” in the city.
Ici Beyrouth added that the attack triggered massive protests by the Alawite community in Homs and elsewhere, amid fears of renewed violence after previous sectarian clashes.