A devastating attack on a church in Damascus has resulted in at least 22 fatalities and numerous injuries during a packed Sunday service. Authorities have attributed the incident to a member of the Islamic State group, marking a significant escalation in violence in the Syrian capital.
The attack, which involved a shooting followed by a suicide bombing, is reportedly the first of its kind within a church in Syria since the civil war began in 2011. The shocking nature of the incident has drawn widespread condemnation from the international community, emphasizing the ongoing security challenges faced by Syria’s government and the urgent need to protect minority groups.
Eyewitness accounts describe a chaotic scene as first responders rushed into the Saint Elias church in the Dwelaa area, where worshippers—many of them children and the elderly—were present. Lawrence Maamari, a parishioner, recounted how a man entered the church, began shooting, and subsequently detonated an explosive belt. The attack left the church’s interior in ruins, with debris scattered across the floor, including shattered glass and fallen sacred icons.
Ziad Helou, who witnessed the attack from a nearby shop, reported hearing gunfire followed by a loud explosion, describing the aftermath as horrific, with flames and debris affecting the entrance of the church. The scale of the tragedy has left families frantically searching for their missing loved ones in the wake of the attack.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted that while other churches had experienced attacks throughout the conflict, none had been targeted in such a direct and violent manner. The Orthodox patriarchate in Damascus issued a solemn message, urging the authorities to take full responsibility for the security of religious sites and the protection of all citizens.
The attack is particularly alarming for Syria’s Christian community, which has seen its numbers dwindle from approximately one million before the war to less than 300,000 due to ongoing violence and displacement. The international response has been robust, with calls for a thorough investigation into the attack. Geir Pedersen, the United Nations special envoy for Syria, expressed his outrage, and the U.S. special envoy, Tom Barrack, reaffirmed support for Syria’s fight against forces destabilizing the region.
Countries such as Turkey and France have also voiced their commitment to a peaceful and pluralistic future for Syria, emphasizing the need for unity against terrorism. Egypt’s Al-Azhar condemned the attack as a violation of the right to life and worship, reflecting a broader concern over sectarian violence in the region.
In response to this tragic incident, Syrian authorities have launched an investigation, with Interior Minister Anas Khattab asserting that such terrorist acts will not hinder the state’s efforts toward civil peace. Recent months have seen a troubling rise in sectarian violence, prompting officials to emphasize their resolve in countering threats posed by extremist groups like the Islamic State.
Since its earlier territorial defeats in 2019, IS has attempted to resurface by targeting strategic locations and demographics, including Christian and Shiite communities. The authorities have recently arrested suspected members of an IS cell preparing further attacks, underscoring the persistent threat of terrorism that looms over the region.
