Homs -- At least eight people were killed and 18 wounded in a blast that struck a mosque in an Alawite neighbourhood of Homs province in Syria on Friday, state media reported.

 Islamist militant group Saraya Ansar al-Sunna claimed responsibility for the attack. Formed after former president Bashar al-Assad’s ouster, the group in June claimed an attack on a Damascus church.  

At least eight people were killed in an explosion at the Imam Ali Bin Abi Talib Mosque, an Alawite-majority site in Homs, on Friday, Syrian state news agency SANA reported.

SANA cited Syrian Health Ministry official Najib al-Naasan as saying at least 18 others were wounded, noting that the figures were preliminary and could rise.

Homs city’s press office said security forces had cordoned off the area following the blast.

Local official Issam Naameh said the blast took place during Friday noon prayers, typically the busiest time for mosques.

An Islamist militant group, Saraya Ansar al-Sunna, later claimed responsibility for the attack via a statement on Telegram, saying its fighters “detonated a number of explosive devices” inside the mosque.

The group, formed after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad, had previously claimed a Damascus church attack in June.

Syria's foreign ministry called the attack a "desperate attempt" to destabilise the country, vowing to hold the perpetrators accountable.

In a statement, the ministry condemned "this cowardly criminal act", saying it came "in the context of repeated desperate attempts to undermine security and stability and spread chaos among the Syrian people".

The ministry reiterated its "firm stance in combating terrorism in all its forms", stressing that "such crimes will not deter the Syrian state from continuing its efforts to consolidate security, protect citizens, and hold those involved accountable".

SANA published footage of rescuers and security forces examining debris splayed across ​the mosque's green carpet. 

SANA quoted a security source as saying "initial investigations indicate that the explosion ... was caused by explosive devices planted inside the mosque".

A resident of the area, requesting anonymity out of fear for his safety, said people "heard a loud explosion, followed by chaos and panic in the neighbourhood".

"No one dares to leave their house, and we are hearing ambulance sirens," he added.

SANA published photos from inside the mosque, one of which showed a hole in a wall.

Syria has been rocked by several episodes ‌of sectarian violence since longtime leader Bashar al-Assad, an Alawite, was ousted by a rebel offensive ‍last year and replaced by a government led by members of the Sunni Muslim majority.

Earlier this month, two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed in central Syria by an attacker described by the authorities as a suspected member of ‍the Islamic State group.