dozens injured in southern Syria

Damascus (dpa) — More than 30 people, including children, were injured after an explosion struck a wedding celebration in southern Syria late Friday, according to state media and a monitoring group.

The health director in Daraa, Ziad al-Mahameed, told the state-run Syrian News Agency (SANA) that the total number of injuries has reached 33, among them several children.

Dr Nizar Rashdan, director of the Daraa National Hospital, said five of the admitted patients were children, adding that some cases remained critical.

Local residents told dpa that they heard a sudden blast during the crowded wedding ceremony but did not know where it came from.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has been documenting violence in Syria since 2011, said that unknown assailants threw a hand grenade at the wedding, causing the injuries, and warned that the number may rise due to the seriousness of some injuries.

The incident in Abdeen has renewed concerns about public safety in Daraa, where persistent insecurity, targeted attacks, and the prevalence of weapons continue to threaten civilian life.