Joseph Aoun condemns 'terrorist attack,' expresses 'deep solidarity' with Syria

BEIRUT — President Joseph Aoun on Friday condemned what he called a “terrorist attack” on a mosque in an Alawite area of Homs, Syria, that killed at least eight people, and expressed “deep solidarity” with his "brother," Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

The attack was claimed hours later by the Syrian jihadist group Saraya Ansar al-Sunna (Brigade of the Partisans of the Sunnis).

In a statement posted on the Lebanese presidency’s X account, Aoun “renewed his support for Syria in its fight against terrorism and in its efforts to build a state based on freedom, democracy, modernity and tolerance.”

Calling for the protection of fundamental freedoms, Aoun said that “hate speech, as well as practices of stigmatization and exclusion from national and public life, represent one of the greatest challenges for societies emerging from wars with multiple causes and dimensions.”

Since his election in January 2025, Aoun has not visited Syria, despite trips to several Arab countries. Coming from a political tradition that has sought to keep its distance from the opposition to the ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, he has so far appeared reluctant to move closer to Sharaa.

As army commander, Aoun frequently confronted Syrian Islamist factions, some linked to Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, the group led by Sharaa that toppled the Assad regime after 13 years of civil war.

After a suicide bombing on June 22 at Saint Elias Church in Damascus that killed at least 25 people and wounded 63 — also claimed by Saraya Ansar al-Sunna — Aoun called Sharaa two days later to offer condolences. On the day of that attack, he extended his condolences to the Greek Orthodox Church and urged Syrian authorities to take the necessary measures to protect all Syrian citizens. Sharaa later said authorities had arrested those involved and vowed to prevent further attacks.