A devastating explosion tore through the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque in Homs during Friday prayers, killing at least eight worshippers and injuring several others in one of the region’s most disturbing attacks in months. Verified footage circulating online shows terrified worshippers fleeing the prayer hall as dust, debris, and smoke fill the air, a scene that has shaken Syria and renewed questions about the country’s fragile security landscape. WATCH 

A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near Afghanistan’s northern city of Mazar-e Sharif, killing at least 20 people and injuring over 320. The quake damaged the city’s iconic Blue Mosque, a centuries-old holy site, and triggered widespread panic as rescuers searched through rubble. Power outages hit several provinces, and officials warn the death toll could rise as remote areas report in.