A suicide bombing at a Greek Orthodox church in Damascus has left at least 22 people dead and 63 others wounded, Syrian authorities confirmed late Sunday. The attacker, reportedly linked to the jihadist group Islamic State (IS), opened fire during an evening service at the Church of the Prophet Elias in the Dweila neighbourhood before detonating an explosive vest.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and horror. Lawrence Maamari told AFP that the assailant entered the church carrying a weapon and began shooting before setting off the explosive. Another witness, Ziad, recounted hearing gunfire followed by a blast that sent glass flying and reduced pews to splinters.
Photos and footage from the church showed severe structural damage, shattered stained glass, and blood on the walls. The blast reportedly occurred at the entrance, killing both worshippers inside and bystanders nearby.
No group has claimed responsibility, but Syria’s interior ministry stated the attacker was affiliated with IS. If confirmed, it would mark the first such attack in Damascus since Islamist-led rebel forces overthrew President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December, ending 13 years of civil war.
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch condemned the attack, calling it a “treacherous” act and urged Syria’s interim government to ensure the safety of all religious communities. “This crime desecrated a sacred place and stole innocent lives,” the Patriarchate said in a statement.
Interior Minister Anas Khattab announced that a full investigation was underway. “These terrorist acts will not derail our commitment to civil peace,” he said.
The UN and international community strongly condemned the attack. UN special envoy Geir Pedersen called on Syrians to “reject terrorism and extremism,” while US envoy Tom Barrack emphasized that such violence has no place in the new Syria.
Despite IS’s territorial defeat in 2019, the group remains a potent threat. A UN report earlier this year warned of up to 3,000 IS fighters in Syria and Iraq, with the Syrian desert acting as a base for operations. Sunday’s bombing underscores the lingering danger posed by the group and the fragility of Syria’s security transition.
