Clashes erupted in Syria's coastal cities of Latakia and Tartous between Alawite protesters demanding federalism and counterdemonstrators, resulting in at least four deaths and dozens of injuries. This violence follows a mosque bombing in Homs that killed eight people during Friday prayers. A group claiming responsibility for the bombing targeted the Alawite sect, which hard-line Islamists consider apostates. The protests were called for by an Alawite sheikh advocating for the sect's rights.