A bomb exploded inside a crowded cafe in the Hejaz district of central Damascus on July 2, 2026, killing between 6 and 9 people and injuring approximately 16 to 22 others, according to multiple sources [1, 2, 3].

The homemade explosive device, containing metal fragments and weighing about one kilogram, was planted inside the cafe located about 100 meters from the Palace of Justice, a major government building [1, 2, 4]. The cafe is known to be frequented by lawyers and courthouse employees, as high-profile trials of former regime figures are underway nearby [5].

Eyewitness Mohammed al-Dahabi, owner of a shop next to the cafe, said, "I felt strong pressure, and the whole place shook. I ran to the place and saw people lying on the floor with blood pooled around them everywhere" [1]. Security forces quickly cordoned off the area, and ambulances rushed the wounded to hospitals. Many of those injured suffered serious injuries [1, 2, 6].

Damascus Governor Maher Marwan Idlibi condemned the attack, vowing that "those responsible for the bloodshed will be punished. Each time the country sees a period of stability, malicious parties try to destabilise it" [1]. He added, "The coming hours will reveal everything and those who shed the blood of Syrians will pay, but Syria will be well as long as we are one hand and this will not shake the Syrian state" [5].

No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing as of the latest reports [1, 2, 3]. Analysts and officials suspect opponents of the interim government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took power after overthrowing Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, including possible Islamic State militants exploiting the ongoing instability [1, 2].

The blast is the deadliest bombing in Damascus since a June 2025 suicide attack on a church that killed 25 people [1, 6]. Several Arab and regional governments, including Turkey, condemned the attack and pledged solidarity with Syria [2, 7].

The incident comes after a car bomb attack near the Damascus Ministry of Defence in May 2026 that killed one soldier and wounded at least 18 [8, 3]. Authorities continue investigations as security remains a challenge for the Syrian government.

Officials have not announced further details but are expected to release more information as investigations progress.