Since 2012, a deadly string of bombings in the city of Homs has claimed the lives of at least 470 people – mostly civilians – and has injured at least 1,700. These attacks have come in the form of car bombs, small IEDs, and suicide bombings. Though such attacks have occurred in other Syrian cities, Homs stands out due to the sheer number of attacks, the fact that most have targeted civilians rather than political or military installations, and the fact the frequency of attacks has not abated since 2013, as in other cities, but, rather, has increased.

Until now, no comprehensive effort had been made by anyone to catalogue these attacks. Extensive research on our part has revealed the total number of bombings to be at least 91; these bombings have occurred as part of at least 67 separate incidents. An additional five incidents are disputed or lack corroboration. Below is a full list of attacks in chronological order, including dates, locations, casualty information, any claims of responsibility, and sources. Attacks are assumed to be against civilians unless otherwise noted.

Update (Dec. 2017): The total number of attacks has now reached at least 93.

Date Location Casualties Group Notes Source(s) 2/12/12 Hamra 15 killed

24 injured http://bit.ly/2o5xGxY 7/12/12 Insha’at 0 killed

27 injured http://bit.ly/2nSpv7f

http://bit.ly/2oQBxPc 13/2/13 Hamra 1 killed http://bit.ly/2p9l3Bp

http://bit.ly/2oIQVAn 28/2/13 Akrama 4 killed

15 injured http://bit.ly/2oQSJnS

http://bit.ly/2oIZBGY 21/3/13 Wadi al-Dahab 2 killed

20+ injured http://bit.ly/2nltKfp 4/4/13 al-Wa’er 0 killed

0 injured http://bit.ly/2oMxLsU

http://bit.ly/2oa3Dqt

http://bit.ly/2nSoV9C 12/4/13 al-Wa’er 0 killed

0 injured http://bit.ly/2oQGqIf

http://bit.ly/2oQOtF4

http://bit.ly/2oIR3jr 27/5/13 al-Wa’er 6 killed

40 injured http://bit.ly/2nlD0QG

http://bit.ly/2o5oPMC

http://bit.ly/2p9plsm 8/6/13 Nuzha 7 killed

10 injured http://bit.ly/2nltpcI

http://bit.ly/2oglBYM 8/7/13 Akrama (x2) 6 killed

40 injured Jabhat al-Nusra http://bit.ly/2o5C1kO

http://bit.ly/2nLcUSg

http://bit.ly/2o5iFMt

http://bit.ly/2oLCVpr 18/7/13 al-Wa’er 0 killed

0 injured http://bit.ly/2nSpPCQ

http://bit.ly/2oQAzCR

http://bit.ly/2o5pX2I 24/10/13 Nuzha 3 killed

40 injured Jabhat al-Nusra http://bit.ly/2oLCVpr

http://bit.ly/2oLMPXZ

http://bit.ly/2nKxXEI 27/2/14 Akrama 7 killed

20 injured http://bit.ly/2njLTdy

http://bit.ly/2oQbnfN 6/3/14 al-Arman 13 killed

30 injured http://bit.ly/2o4swSO

http://bit.ly/2p8jMKO

http://bit.ly/2njHoiR 17/3/14 Zahra 6 killed

20 injured Jabhat al-Nusra http://bit.ly/2p8jrrw

http://bit.ly/2oQ1fn4

http://bit.ly/2nKnFEv

http://bit.ly/2og02rj 27/3/14 al-Arman 1 killed

11 injured http://bit.ly/2nk43M3

http://bit.ly/2oHKUUP

http://bit.ly/2nRtalJ 9/4/14 Karm al-Luz 25 killed

107 injured Jabhat al-Nusra http://bit.ly/2oHQpmk

http://bit.ly/2o4wOcZ 14/4/14 Akrama 4 killed

30 injured http://bit.ly/2oLvkXS

http://bit.ly/2p8iEXl 18/4/14 Akrama 14 killed

50 injured http://bit.ly/2o4lSvR

http://bbc.in/1f49XSr

http://bit.ly/2oLvQF0 29/4/14 Abbasiya (x2) 40-55 killed

116-130 injured Jabhat al-Nusra http://bit.ly/2oLCVpr

http://bit.ly/2ofTOHZ

http://bit.ly/2nKgb4A 25/5/14 Refinery Bridge

Zahra 13 killed

40 injured Jabhat al-Nusra http://bit.ly/2oHKD44

http://bit.ly/2o4sDOc

http://bit.ly/2oPMqAS

http://bit.ly/2o9cpVw 12/6/14 Wadi al-Dahab 9-18 killed

40-60 injured Jabhat al-Nusra http://on.wsj.com/2p8ljQW

http://bit.ly/2p8A4Du 19/6/14 Akrama 6 killed

40 injured http://bit.ly/2nRuq8o 24/6/14 Wadi al-Dahab 1 killed

23 injured http://bit.ly/2ofNFLS

http://bit.ly/2o9xv6d 27/7/14 al-Arman 7 killed

21 injured http://bit.ly/2nRA8ag

http://bit.ly/2oLttSE 30/7/14 Wadi al-Dahab 2 killed

30 injured Jabhat al-Nusra http://bit.ly/2oHKJc8

http://bit.ly/2p8yrW8

http://bit.ly/2oLD4Jg 1/10/14 Akrama (x2) 53+ killed

144 injured Targeted the al-Makhmouzi school. At least 48 of the dead were schoolchildren http://bit.ly/2oLPsZI

http://bit.ly/2njLGqO

http://bit.ly/2oPS5qM

http://bit.ly/2p8qd0r 29/10/14 Zahra 12 killed

30 injured Jabhat al-Nusra http://bit.ly/2p8u2CJ

http://bit.ly/2p8zbdS 6/12/14 Zahra No corroboration http://bit.ly/2oLuKJn 21/1/15 Akrama 7 killed

71 injured http://bit.ly/2oLCz21

http://bit.ly/2oLs3HO

http://t.co/GuH9CIDHVk 26/3/15 Southern Entrance Jabhat al-Nusra Targeted a military warehouse http://bit.ly/2p8BP3c

http://bit.ly/2p8m0Kb 10/4/15 al-Arman 2 killed

12 injured IS https://t.co/LrCYYj9NwQ

http://bit.ly/2o9o4nh

http://bit.ly/2oPJTqm 30/4/15 Karm al-Luz 0 killed

0 injured Jabhat al-Nusra http://bit.ly/2nKcYlk

http://bit.ly/2p8m0Kb 6/5/15 Nuzha Jabhat al-Nusra http://bit.ly/2oHIUvJ

http://bit.ly/2p8m0Kb

http://bit.ly/2o4ynHS 12/5/15 Wadi al-Dahab

Zahra 4 killed

28 injured IS http://bit.ly/2nRx3He

http://bit.ly/2oHJsBJ

http://bit.ly/2nRxwJJ 18/5/15 Zahra 0 killed

0 injured Jabhat al-Nusra No corroboration http://bit.ly/2p8m0Kb 3/6/15 Zahra 0 killed

0 injured Jabhat al-Nusra http://bit.ly/2o9e9y9

http://bit.ly/2p8m0Kb 14/6/15 Akrama 0 killed

10 injured Jabhat al-Nusra http://bit.ly/2p8tYTt

http://bit.ly/2p8m0Kb

http://bit.ly/2oHCg8P 14/6/15 Karm al-Luz 1 killed

26 injured http://bit.ly/2p8tYTt

http://bit.ly/2o4wxXu

http://bit.ly/2o4dxIH 30/6/15 Akrama

Nuzha 0 killed

4 injured Jabhat al-Nusra http://bit.ly/2ofSmFz

http://bit.ly/2nRa2o5

http://bit.ly/2p8m0Kb 7/7/15 Akrama 0 killed

1 injured Jabhat al-Nusra http://bit.ly/2o9eX68

http://bit.ly/2p8m0Kb 12/7/15 Unknown (x2) Jabhat al-Nusra Allegedly targeted 2 gov. security buildings. No corroboration http://bit.ly/2p8m0Kb 26/8/15 Insha’at 5-6 killed

30-37 injured Disputed; some claim an IED; others (including SANA) report rocket fire was to blame http://bit.ly/2oHtOq2

http://bit.ly/2nRs4WY

http://t.co/SLRmrbvYF0 29/8/15 Zahra 4 killed

20 injured IS http://bit.ly/2njG53M

http://bit.ly/2p8lCen 16/9/15 Zahra 0 killed

8 injured IS http://bit.ly/2nR8U3P

http://bit.ly/2njAkDf 18/9/15 Wadi al-Dahab (x2) 2 killed

11 injured Jabhat al-Nusra http://bit.ly/2o9c6du

http://bit.ly/2oLyPgR

http://t.co/SpfRlaOq2d

http://bit.ly/2oPWzNW 20/9/15 Zahra 1 killed

3 injured Jabhat al-Nusra Targeted a car carrying SAA http://bit.ly/2njFnUa

http://bit.ly/2og9FpR

http://bit.ly/2o4dxYQ 22/9/15 Zahra 1 killed

12 injured IS http://bit.ly/2o4ielH

http://bit.ly/2oPPBJ1 23/9/15 Akrama 1 killed

8 injured http://bit.ly/2p8792k 4/10/15 Zahra 1 killed

21 injured IS http://bit.ly/2o4mCkB

http://bit.ly/2p8pP1S 10/10/15 Wadi al-Dahab 4 killed Ahrar al-Sham Assassination of Col. Hassan Mahmoud Issa http://bit.ly/2o98JTM

http://bit.ly/2ofRq48

http://t.co/cAISxYtVe9 20/10/15 Hamra 0 killed

4 injured http://bit.ly/2oLCEm0

http://bit.ly/2oPSZDr 8/11/15 Akrama (x2)

Insha’at

Wadi al-Dahab 1 killed

19 injured Jabhat al-Nusra Insha’at attack was on a Ba’ath party HQ; the rest were on civilians http://bit.ly/2o4qz92

http://bit.ly/2oHCHjv

http://bit.ly/2ofQPiH 12/12/15 Zahra 16-20 killed

54-140 injured IS http://bit.ly/2o4dJrk

http://dailym.ai/2nKqLbx

http://bit.ly/2ofY0aO 17/12/15 Akrama Jabhat al-Nusra http://bit.ly/2nRlVKB

http://bit.ly/2nRfPd3

http://bit.ly/2o9bk06 18/12/15 Bab al-Sabaa Jabhat al-Nusra No corroboration http://bit.ly/2nRfPd3

http://bit.ly/2o9bk06 28/12/15 Zahra 32 killed

90 injured IS http://reut.rs/1mdWxhd

http://bit.ly/2nRjffV 2/1/16 Akrama 0 killed

0 injured http://bit.ly/2p88hTI

http://bit.ly/2o4oBpa

http://bit.ly/2nRiJ1t 15/1/16 al-Arman 0 killed

7 injured http://bit.ly/2oHwQKJ

http://ow.ly/nVfw30aEpgh 22/1/16 Karm al-Luz

Wadi al-Dahab 0 killed

14 injured Jabhat al-Nusra http://bit.ly/2nR7tSS

http://bit.ly/2njzBls 26/1/16 Zahra (x2) 22-26 killed

100 injured IS http://bit.ly/2nRm28I

http://bit.ly/2ofQi02

http://ab.co/1PPeKbN

http://bit.ly/2nQVS6o 27/1/16 Hamra 0 killed

0 injured http://bit.ly/2nK8ifq

http://bit.ly/2oPJVhU 21/2/16 Zahra (x2) 57 killed

100 injured IS http://ab.co/1PPeKbN

http://bit.ly/2nKlxNd

http://bit.ly/2oPV3vn 31/3/16 Akrama (x2-3)

Karm al-Luz

Wadi al-Dahab 0 killed

6 injured Jabhat al-Nusra http://bit.ly/2nK5kHE

http://bit.ly/2oLtBBI

http://bit.ly/2p8586h

http://bit.ly/2oLk51k

http://bit.ly/2nKl9Op 5/9/16 Zahra 4 killed

10 injured IS Targeted gov. checkpoint https://t.co/5QpU6r5AxT

http://bit.ly/2nKnsB8 26/11/16 Wadi al-Dahab 0 killed

0 injured http://bit.ly/2njvwO9

http://bit.ly/2ofR7X3 15/12/16 Zahra 4-8 killed IS Targeted gov. field hospital http://bit.ly/2p86xJY

https://t.co/sJD8yNPQ9t 9/2/17 Zahra 3 killed

16 injured http://bit.ly/2njBcHG 25/2/17 Ghouta & Mahatta (x5) 40-42 killed

50 injured Tahrir al-Sham Targeted 2 major gov. security HQs http://bit.ly/2p8pBaO

http://bit.ly/2njDN4H

http://bit.ly/2o3QxcQ 14/3/17 Wadi al-Dahab 1 killed

2 injured https://t.co/seavsRrosW 29/3/17 Zahra 5 killed

7 injured http://ht.ly/yAaU50avdmj

http://bit.ly/2oHiIBa 23/5/17 Zahra 4 killed

16-32 injured IS http://bit.ly/2qQU7ue

http://bit.ly/2nwmQV9

http://bit.ly/2AbylqQ 5/12/17 Akrama 8 killed

18 injured IS IS claimed the attack was against soldiers, but most victims were civilians http://bit.ly/2AxyqnT

http://bit.ly/2kowacr

http://bit.ly/2jZch7N

http://bit.ly/2BL0kdX

http://bit.ly/2jYVYIa

Something that’s important to note is that this chart does not include incidents of artillery fire or airstrikes. The attack has to have occurred outside of an active front line, and there has to have been no apparent military objective (i.e. capturing ground).

This type of attack first occurred in Homs in December 2012, and has been used primarily or solely by anti-government groups; Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State (IS) in particular have claimed many of the attacks. As a consequence, almost all of the incidents listed above occurred in government-controlled areas, mostly Alawi-majority districts such as Akrama, Karm al-Luz, Nuzha, Wadi al-Dahab, and Zahra. Sunni-majority districts with large concentrations of government supporters, including Hamra and Insha’at, have also been hit, albeit less frequently. The attacks have come with a variety of goals, including assassinations and elimination of military or political installations, but many of them – including the most deadly – have been aimed at generating the largest possible massacre of civilians.

The single deadliest incident was a double bombing in Zahra on 21 February 2016. It killed at least 57 people, mostly civilians. It was claimed by IS. Another mass-casualty incident was the 29 April 2014 double bombing of the crowded al-Abbasiya circle near Zahra, which occurred while negotiations were ongoing for the evacuation of rebel fighters from Old Homs. At least 40 people were killed, mostly civilians. Perhaps the most infamous incident was the double suicide bombing of the al-Makhmouzi elementary school in Akrama on 1 October 2014. At least 48 schoolchildren were killed. While the school bombing has gone unclaimed, the Abbasiya bombing was claimed by Jabhat al-Nusra the next day.

Unlike IS supporters who accept that endorsing attacks on civilians is a prerequisite of supporting IS, many online supporters of Nusra – now divorced from al-Qaeda and part of the Syrian Salafi-Jihadi conglomerate Tahrir al-Sham – deny the group targets civilians. This is quite odd considering the group itself has not denied this, but, rather, has boasted about their acts. Official Nusra statements, which can be found in the sources column of the chart, make this fact abundantly clear.

Presently, the future outlook for security in Homs is positive. In late March, negotiators representing rebels in al-Wa’er, the last rebel-controlled district, signed an evacuation agreement with the government. Rumors are currently swirling about an upcoming government offensive against the rebel-controlled North Homs countryside, which is tied culturally to Homs and is home to many Homsi rebels who were bused there in 2014. The IS-controlled East Homs countryside (the area north of Furqlus), which is likely the origin of IS attacks, will probably be abandoned by IS in the near future as the walls come closing in on Raqqa and Deir al-Zour. While it’s unlikely we’ve seen the end of bombings in Homs, for Homsis, the worst is probably over.

Any additional bombings that do occur will be added to this list.