10 Killed and Approximately 20 Others Injured in a Bombing Targeting the Vicinity of the Palace of Justice in Damascus; Rights Monitor Syria Condemns the Attack and Demands an Independent Investigation
At least 10 people were killed and approximately 20 others were injured, including a large number of lawyers, following a bombing that targeted the vicinity of the Palace of Justice in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Thursday, July 2, 2026. This incident constitutes a gross violation of the right to life and personal security. Rights Monitor Syria emphasizes the necessity of conducting an independent and transparent investigation to uncover its circumstances and hold those responsible accountable.
According to documented information, the majority of those killed and injured were lawyers who were present in the vicinity of the Palace of Justice at the time of the bombing.
According to a statement issued by the Quneitra Lawyers Bar Association, quoting a source in the Syrian Ministry of Justice, the names of the lawyers killed as a result of the bombing are:
Lawyer Eid Awad Al-Muhammad (Quneitra Lawyers Bar Association Branch).
Lawyer Muhammad Al-Shamali.
Lawyer Muhannad Khalaf.
Lawyer Mahmoud Shihab.
Lawyer Fathi Al-Qabbani.
Lawyer Hussam Al-Safadi.
The statement also listed the names of several injured lawyers, who are:
Lawyer Muhammad Sahmani.
Lawyer Haitham Qabbani.
Lawyer Abdul Aziz Sarmini.
Lawyer Ahmad Najjar Lahseen.
Lawyer Khaled Mustafa Al-Hasiyan.
Lawyer Mustafa Naddaf.
Lawyer Aya Abdel Rahman.
Lawyer Fouad Shteiwi.
In its statement, the Bar Association affirmed its strong condemnation of the attack, expressing its solidarity with the families of the victims and wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.
Conflicting Accounts Regarding the Nature of the Bombing
Information regarding how the bombing occurred remains conflicting as of the drafting of this report.
Syrian authorities announced that the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED), whereas other sources and testimonies indicated that the incident was the result of a suicide attack, alleging that three individuals entered the Palace of Justice, one of whom blew himself up, while the other two were apprehended.
Rights Monitor Syria has been unable to independently verify either account; therefore, it presents them within the framework of documentation while emphasizing that the verification of the facts remains ongoing.
Rights Monitor Syria condemns in the strongest possible terms this attack that targeted civilians and lawyers in the vicinity of a judicial institution. It underscores that targeting protected persons or endangering civilians constitutes a serious violation of international human rights law, necessitating an independent and impartial investigation to uncover the full truth and ensure the accountability of all those responsible for this crime, regardless of the perpetrating party.
Furthermore, Rights Monitor Syria extends its deepest condolences and sympathy to the families, relatives, and colleagues of the victims, and wishes a speedy recovery to all the injured, reaffirming its solidarity with all those affected, and calling for the protection of civilians and justice sector workers, and the prevention of the recurrence of such attacks.
