Grenade attack kills senior Shiite cleric near Damascus shrine

A senior Shiite cleric, Farhan al-Mansour, was killed Friday near Damascus after assailants hurled a grenade into his car, Syrian state media reported. Al-Mansour served as the main preacher at the Sayyida Zeinab shrine in the Damascus suburb. Authorities said security was increased in the southern suburb and that an investigation has been launched to identify the attackers.

Context

The Sayyida Zeinab suburb was a flashpoint during the early years of Syria’s conflict and has a history of attacks on Shiite pilgrims, including strikes claimed by the Islamic State. Tens of thousands once visited the shrine, which is revered by many Shiites as the tomb of Zeinab, a daughter of Imam Ali, but pilgrimage numbers have fallen sharply since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024. The killing underscores ongoing security risks in the area, officials said, as reported by AP News