ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A blast killed at least six people and injured 22 others in Damascus on Thursday. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
"Units of the Ministry of Interior have initiated field measures following the explosion of an improvised explosive device inside a cafe in the al-Hijaz area of the capital, Damascus," the ministry said in a statement, adding the blast killed four and injured "several" others.
Meanwhile, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) later reported six deaths and 22 injuries, citing Ahmad al-Bakour, the director of emergency and ambulance services at the Syrian Ministry of Health.
The interior ministry added that its patrols and ambulances rushed to the scene to evacuate the injured and provide first aid, and that security forces cordoned off the area to protect citizens and secure the site.
No party has claimed responsibility for the explosion.
The blast comes amid Syria's transitional period following the December 2024 ouster of dictator Bashar al-Assad - a time marked by frequent attacks from militant groups, including the Islamic State (ISIS).
Updated at 6:50 pm with new death toll.
