Damascus: A suicide bombing at the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus claimed the lives of at least 22 people and left more than 50 others wounded on Sunday, according to Syrian health officials and security sources.
The blast, which took place in the Dweila district of the capital, marks the first such attack in Damascus since former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by an Islamist-led rebellion in December.
In a statement, Syria's interior ministry confirmed the attacker was affiliated with the Islamic State group. The assailant reportedly entered the church during service, opened fire on congregants, and then detonated an explosive vest.
A security official, requesting anonymity, revealed that two individuals were believed to have been involved in the attack. One of them carried out the suicide bombing, while the role of the second remains under investigation.
Though Islamic State has attempted multiple attacks on Christian sites since the regime change, this incident is the first successful strike on a church since Assad’s removal.
The Syrian health ministry reported 52 injuries in addition to the fatalities. Video footage shared by the White Helmets civil defence group showed scenes of devastation within the church — broken pews, scattered debris, and bloodstained floors.
President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who assumed leadership in January following the downfall of Assad, has previously pledged to safeguard Syria’s diverse religious communities. His office has not yet issued a statement on the attack.
International condemnation swiftly followed. Greece’s foreign ministry released a strongly worded message denouncing the bombing as a “heinous act of terror” and called on Syrian transitional authorities to ensure justice and bolster protections for vulnerable religious groups.
Islamic State, though largely dismantled in terms of territorial control, continues to carry out deadly operations, with Sunday’s bombing highlighting ongoing security vulnerabilities across the country.
This latest assault echoes the group’s notorious 2016 bombing in Sayeda Zainab, which targeted Shiite pilgrims and remains one of the deadliest attacks from the Assad era.
