On Thursday, a devastating explosion rocked a bustling café in central Damascus, leaving at least six dead and 22 injured. The blast occurred on Al-Nasr Street in the al-Hijaz district, just 100 meters from the Palace of Justice's main entrance. According to security sources, an individual planted an improvised explosive device (IED) under a table before leaving the café, potentially aiming for further attacks on the courthouse. The targeted establishment was popular among lawyers, courthouse employees, and visitors, contributing to the high casualty count. No group has taken responsibility for the attack, but Syrian Governor Maher Marwan suggested that "malicious actors" were attempting to destabilize the country. The Palace of Justice is currently hosting high-profile trials for key figures from the previous government, including Atef Najib, a former security chief accused of torturing schoolboys in Deraa and sparking the nationwide uprising in 2011. As remnants of the old regime remain at large, analyst Kamal Abdo suggests that these individuals, including military officers, Ba'ath Party functionaries, Shabiha militia remnants, and intelligence personnel, possess extensive experience in executing such operations. Although Syria's new administration has demonstrated significant success in imposing security, the country still faces a substantial challenge in countering similar attacks from potential destabilizers. The Damascus governor acknowledged that stability would take time to achieve but insisted on the Interior Ministry's improvement in the security situation since the former government's downfall.