22 Killed in Church Suicide Bombing in Damascus

A deadly shooting and suicide bombing at the Saint Elias Orthodox Church in Damascus on Sunday claimed the lives of at least 22 people and injured 63 others, according to Syria’s health ministry.

The unprecedented attack occurred during a packed service and was blamed on a member of the Islamic State (IS) group.

Authorities said the attacker entered the church in the Dwelaa district, opened fire on worshippers, and then detonated an explosive belt.

“A suicide attacker affiliated with the Daesh (IS) terrorist group entered… opened fire then blew himself up,” the interior ministry stated.

The attack marked the first of its kind on a church in Syria since the civil war began in 2011, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. It also comes as the first such incident in the capital since Islamist forces overthrew former President Bashar al-Assad in December.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of horror and panic as gunfire erupted and flames engulfed parts of the church. Lawrence Maamari, who was inside at the time, told AFP, “A man entered and started shooting. People tried to stop him before he blew himself up.”

Another witness, Ziad Helou, said he heard gunshots followed by an explosion and saw shattered glass and debris scattered outside the church.

AFP reporters on the scene observed emergency services rushing victims to safety while security forces cordoned off the bloodstained premises, strewn with splintered pews and damaged icons.

The attack has drawn widespread international condemnation. UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen denounced the “heinous crime,” calling for a thorough investigation. U.S. envoy Tom Barrack voiced support for Syria’s fight against forces that “seek to create instability and fear,” while Turkey expressed solidarity with Syrians confronting terrorist threats.

France reiterated its call for a Syrian transition that protects religious and ethnic diversity, and Egypt’s Al-Azhar described the assault as “a blatant attack on the right to life and worship.”

The Orthodox Patriarchate in Damascus urged authorities to safeguard the sanctity of religious sites and ensure citizen protection. Syria’s Christian population has declined dramatically—from one million before the war to fewer than 300,000 today—due to displacement and emigration.

Syria’s foreign ministry described the bombing as a “desperate attempt to undermine national coexistence and destabilise the country.” Interior Minister Anas Khattab confirmed an investigation was underway, noting that IS had recently shifted to targeting strategic and minority sites.

Khattab added, “These terrorist acts will not stop the efforts of the Syrian state in achieving civil peace.”

Last month, IS claimed its first attack on Syria’s new government forces, and authorities say an IS cell preparing additional attacks was recently dismantled near Damascus.

Despite the territorial defeat of IS in 2019, the extremist group continues to pose a persistent security threat in the region.