Suicide Bombing Kills 22 in Damascus Church Attack

A deadly suicide bombing inside a church in the Dweil’a district near Damascus claimed the lives of at least 22 people and wounded dozens more during Sunday mass. According to Syrian authorities, the assailant allegedly affiliated with ISIL (ISIS) opened fire on worshippers before detonating an explosives vest inside the crowded Mar Elias Church.

The Syrian Interior Ministry confirmed that the attacker targeted civilians while they were praying, and eyewitness accounts echoed this version of events. Rescue teams from the Syria Civil Defence continue to retrieve victims from the scene, and official reports indicate that at least 63 people were injured, including children.

This marks the first major church attack in Syria in years, highlighting the fragile security landscape as interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa seeks to consolidate power and gain support from minority communities. Concerns have resurfaced regarding the resurgence of sleeper cells, especially as Syria emerges from nearly 14 years of conflict that has left hundreds of thousands dead and displaced millions.

Since al-Sharaa assumed leadership following the removal of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Syria has begun to re-establish international relations. Both the United States and the European Union have recently lifted sanctions.

Images shared by Syria Civil Defence showed the church in ruins, with blood and debris covering the pews. Eyewitnesses described the attacker firing at the congregation before entering the church to carry out the suicide bombing. Emergency services and security personnel responded swiftly, while survivors cried and searched for loved ones amid the wreckage.

Information Minister Hamza al-Mostafa labeled the bombing as a "terrorist act" and emphasized the government's commitment to fighting extremist violence and preserving equal rights for all citizens.

UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen condemned the attack in strong terms, calling for a thorough investigation and accountability. Several countries also denounced the bombing, including neighboring Turkiye, which described it as a "treacherous" attempt to destabilize Syria’s fragile progress toward peace.