Suicide Attack on Damascus Church Leaves 22 Dead, Dozens Injured
A horrific suicide bombing and mass shooting shook the Syrian capital on Sunday evening as an attacker targeted a Christian congregation gathered for worship at the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in the Dweila district of Damascus. At least 22 worshippers were killed, and over 60 others were wounded, including children and elderly parishioners.
According to eyewitnesses and Syrian authorities, the attacker entered the church during evening service, opened fire on the congregation, and then detonated an explosive vest in the midst of the crowd. The blast caused extensive damage to the church interior, and emergency responders worked through the night to assist survivors and recover victims.
There are unconfirmed reports that a second assailant fled the scene before the explosion, and authorities are currently pursuing leads in connection to the possible accomplice. The Islamic State (IS) has been identified as the likely perpetrator, with officials citing evidence that the attacker had ties to a known IS cell operating on the outskirts of the capital.
The attack marks the first suicide bombing within a church in Damascus since the start of Syria’s civil conflict and the deadliest act of violence targeting Christians since the fall of the Assad regime. The new interim government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has declared three days of mourning and pledged a thorough investigation. Interior Minister Anas Khattab visited the scene and vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
“This was not just an attack on a place of worship, but an attack on the very soul of our nation,” Khattab said during a press briefing on Monday. “We will not allow these terrorists to shatter our fragile peace or intimidate our citizens.”
The global community has widely condemned the attack. The United Nations Special Envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, expressed shock and called for urgent international support to protect religious minorities in the region. Similar condemnations were issued by the governments of the United States, France, Turkey, and Egypt, with Egypt’s Al-Azhar Islamic institution denouncing the bombing as “a crime against all faiths and humanity.”
Church leaders and Christian communities across Syria have voiced growing fear about the resurgence of extremist violence. The Christian population in Syria has sharply declined over the past decade, with many fleeing the country due to war, persecution, and economic collapse.
“This tragedy is a reminder that despite the end of large-scale conflict, peace in Syria remains fragile and incomplete,” said Archbishop Elias Touma, who leads the Orthodox community in Damascus. “We ask the world not to forget us. Our people still pray, hope, and hurt.”
Security around religious sites in Damascus has been significantly tightened following the bombing. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage, interviewing witnesses, and examining the remnants of the explosive device to track down all those involved.
As the country reels from the attack, the tragedy has reignited debate over the protection of minority communities in post-war Syria and the risks posed by dormant terrorist networks seeking to exploit political instability. While Sunday’s violence has deeply shaken the capital, it has also unified Syrians in grief and defiance, as many vowed not to let extremism dictate the country’s future.
