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At least 22 people have been killed and 63 injured after a suicide bombing in Syria.
Around 350 people are believed to have been praying at a Greek Orthodox church near Damascus on Sunday evening when the attack happened.
State media and the Syrian Health Ministry confirmed at least 22 fatalities after a suicide bomber entered the church, reportedly opened fire, and then detonated an explosive vest.
- A suicide bomber killed at least 22 and injured 63 at a Greek Orthodox church near Damascus during Sunday prayers.
- The Syrian Interior Ministry blamed the Islamic State group, calling it the third attempted terrorist attack.
- This is the first major attack since Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in 2024, ending his 24-year presidency.
WARNING: This story contains images some readers may find distressing.
A suicide bomber killed at least 22 people at a church near Syria’s capital
Image credits: Bakr Al Kasem/Anadolu via Getty Images
Some witnesses have suggested there was a second attacker.
One told Reuters that a second gunman was seen at the entrance of the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Dweila.
While no group has officially claimed responsibility for the attack, the Syrian Interior Ministry has attributed it to the Islamic State group.
It reported that this is the third attempted terrorist attack, with two other similar attacks previously being prevented.
Image credits: The White Helmets
It is the first major suicide bombing since Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in 2024, ending his 24-year presidency and more than 13 years of civil war.
It is understood an explosion occurred at the entrance of the church, killing and injuring some of those inside and in the immediate vicinity.
Photographs shared by Syria’s Civil Defence, the White Helmets, showed the destruction inside the church.
Image credits: Raed Al Saleh
Debris could be seen littered across the floor, alongside blood, as pews were broken and lying on the ground.
“This cowardly act contradicts the values of citizenship that unite us all,” Syria’s Minister of Information Hamza Al-Mustafa said, according to state media.
“We, as Syrians, affirm the importance of national unity and civil peace, and call for boosting the bonds of brotherhood among all components of society.”
Syrian officials have attributed the attack to the Islamic State group
Image credits: The White Helmets
U.S. Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, sent his condolences on behalf of President Donald Trump.
“On behalf of @POTUS and the American people, we would like to express our condolences to the victims, families, and individuals impacted by the terrorist attack today at Mar Elias church in al-Duwaileh,” he said in a post on X.
“These terrible acts of cowardice have no place in the new tapestry of integrated tolerance and inclusion that Syrians are weaving.”
Image credits: Raed Al Saleh
“We continue to support the Syrian government as it fights against those who are seeking to create instability and fear in their country and the broader region.”
United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen also strongly condemned the “heinous crime” and called for a “full investigation and action by the authorities.”
“Mr. Pedersen calls on all to unite in rejecting terrorism, extremism, incitement, and the targeting of any community in Syria,” a statement read.
“He sends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and his hope for the recovery of those injured.”
Image credits: Raed Al Saleh
The Mar Elias Church, located in the predominantly Christian district of Dweila, serves as a significant place of worship for the local Greek Orthodox community.
According to local reports, the attacker entered the church shortly after the service had begun.
Witnesses said gunshots rang out moments before the explosion as worshippers attempted to flee the attack.
While IS was defeated in Syria in 2019, a recent UN report released in February warned that the threat remains high, the BBC reports.
Image credits: Ali Haj Suleiman/Getty Images
It cautioned that the ongoing political transition in Syria could provide an opportunity for the group to escalate attacks and re-establish the country as a key recruiting ground for foreign militants.
The report estimated that IS maintained a force of roughly 1,500 to 3,000 fighters across Syria and neighboring Iraq, with the majority—including top commanders—operating within Syrian borders.
Approximately 300 fighters were believed to be stationed in the central Badia desert, which functioned as a hub for orchestrating attacks beyond the region.
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