A cowardly attack
Several mortar shells rained down on the shrine of Bibi Zainab in Damascus the other day, killing its custodian and partially damaging the main mosque. Bibi Zainab’s shrine, though visited by Shias as a holy site, is equally revered by Sunnis. A symbol of fortitude and perseverance, she led the column of surviving widowed and orphaned women to Damascus to confront Yazid, who had killed her brother and the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), along with 71 other Muslims in the battle of Karbala. Her first speech, before embarking on the journey to Damascus, was to the people of Kufa who deserted Hussain (AS) in the middle of the battle. It stirred their conscience, to the extent that it was feared a new battle might ensue out of the repenting rage. She was readily driven to the palace of Yazid. There, not for a moment did Bibi Zainab hesitate to chastise Yazid for his unholy and ill-begotten adventure. Her speech held Yazid spellbound, and he allowed the survivors of Karbala a safe passage to Madina. This was not the first terrorist attempt on the shrine; a similar attack was made by the Takfiri terrorists in June , and even b
ISIL claims deadly blasts near Sayeda Zeinab shrine
A double bomb attack near a Muslim shrine in a suburb of Syria’s capital Damascus has killed at least 12 people, according to state media, in the latest in repeated deadly strikes on the site.
The official SANA news agency said on Saturday that a suicide bomber and a car bomb struck at the entrance to the Sayeda Zeinab district housing the shrine, which is revered by Shia Muslims around the world.
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group claimed responsibility for the attacks via an online post.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a British-based monitoring group, reported a higher toll of at least 20 people killed and 30 wounded.
READ MORE: Syria faces fierce criticism over Daraya bombing
The shrine, about 10km south of the centre of Damascus, is heavily guarded by pro-government forces but has still been the target of several attacks, including those claimed by ISIL.
It contains the grave of Zeinab, a venerated granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad, and is notable for its glistening golden dome.
Syrian army members inspect a damaged roof near Sayeda Zeinab mosque after the attack [Re
Aaj English TVThe Sayyida Zainab Shia shrine in southern Damascus has reportedly been left untouched by Syrian rebels, according to Iraqi paramilitary fighters. These fighters stated that they faced no aggression from rebel forces as they withdrew back to Iraq. The Iraqi Shia paramilitaries indicated that the rebels, who launched a significant offensive on November 27 and captured several cities, did not engage with them while passing by the shrine, a site of great importance for Shia Muslims. A commander from an Iraqi faction remarked, “It’s unbelievable. They didn’t even stop to confront us.” He noted that rebel leaders assured them of safety as long as they were unarmed and pledged not to attack holy sites or minority groups. Throughout Syria’s civil war, Iraqi paramilitary units, supported by Iran, have played a critical role in bolstering Bashar al-Assad’s regime. However, since the recent rebel offensive, these Iraqi factions have decided to refrain from intervening to support the Assad government. Read more
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