At least 22 people were killed and 63 others injured in a suicide bombing at a Greek Orthodox church in Damascus, Syrian authorities said Sunday evening. The deadly attack took place during an evening service at the Church of the Prophet Elias in the Dweila neighborhood.
According to the interior ministry, the attacker opened fire inside the church before detonating an explosive vest. The ministry said the assailant was linked to the Islamic State (IS) group, though no official claim has been issued by the group.
Witnesses described panic and horror as gunfire rang out, followed by a powerful explosion. "Someone entered the church carrying a weapon and began shooting. People tried to stop him before he blew himself up," Lawrence Maamari told AFP. Another local resident, Ziad, said glass and wooden debris flew from the blast as flames engulfed part of the church.
Photos and video from the aftermath show shattered pews, bloodstained floors, and a damaged altar. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch denounced the attack as "the treacherous hand of evil" and called on Syrian authorities to protect all citizens and religious sites.
This was the first major terrorist attack in Damascus since the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, which marked the end of Syria’s 13-year civil war. Despite promises by Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa to safeguard religious minorities, the country has seen renewed sectarian unrest in recent months.
Interior Minister Anas Khattab condemned the bombing as a “reprehensible crime” and said investigative teams had been deployed to the scene. “These acts of terrorism will not deter our pursuit of civil peace,” he added.
UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen also condemned the attack, urging all Syrians to reject extremism and violence. U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack called it “a cowardly act” and reaffirmed international support for Syria’s path toward tolerance and inclusion.
The Islamic State has a history of targeting Christian and other minority communities in Syria. Though the group lost its territorial stronghold in 2019, the UN estimates that 1,500 to 3,000 fighters remain in Syria and Iraq. A February 2025 report warned that IS could exploit political instability to regroup and launch further attacks.
The bombing has renewed concerns about Syria’s fragile security environment and the safety of its diverse religious communities as the country navigates a complex post-conflict transition.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan