At least 10 dead in explosion at mosque in Syria’s Idlib -monitor

Workers installing security cameras at the Al A’ali Grand Mosque, following the bombing of mosques in Syria, especially Shia ones.

Syrian troops backed by members of Lebanon’s Hezbollah group began a major offensive Saturday under the cover of intense airstrikes to retake a rebel-held mountain resort while opposition fighters retaliated by shelling the capital Damascus. At least 25 people were reported killed, though some put the figure as high as 40.

In what appeared to be retaliation for the Zabadani offensive, rebels shelled Damascus, striking several neighborhoods including the central Baghdad Street district. Another shell hit the famous Dama Rose hotel, previously Le Meridien, near the upmarket neighbourhood of Abu Rummaneh.

As per the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the blast took place in the Salem Mosque which is situated in the northern town of Ariha in the southern countryside of Idlib on Friday, when the rebels of the Al Qaida linked Nusra Front and an allied jihadi group had gathered to break their fast at the time of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The shelling caused damage to the hotel shattering some of its windows. The death toll included several al-Qaeda fighters, and reportedly a commander.

Early reports indicate the blast was likely the handiwork of a suicide bomber affiliated to the Islamic State group, al-Nusra’s most powerful rival among the rebel groups battling to overthrow President Bashar Assad.

Nusra Front cordoned off the area and the casualty numbers could not be confirmed.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that dozens more were injured in the city of Ariha.

The Observatory said the resort was subjected to more than 90 air strikes yesterday.