At least 20 killed in suicide bombing at Damascus church; first major attack since Assad's fall

Syria's interior ministry said a member of the Islamic State group was behind Sunday's attack on a church in Damascus, which civil defence reported had killed at least 20 people. read more
Syrian citizens and security forces inspect the damage inside Mar Elias church where a suicide bomber detonated himself in Dweil'a in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday June 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
At least 20 people were killed and many more wounded on Sunday when a suicide bomber targeted the Mar Elias Church in Damascus's Dweila neighbourhood, according to health officials and security sources.
The attack was the first suicide bombing in the Syrian capital since President Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December by an Islamist-led rebel uprising.
Syria's interior ministry confirmed the attacker was affiliated with the Islamic State group. 'A suicide attacker affiliated with the Daesh (IS) terrorist group entered the Saint Elias church… opened fire then blew himself up with an explosive belt,' the ministry said in a statement.
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A security official, speaking anonymously with Reuters said two men were involved in the incident, including the suicide bomber himself.
Islamic State has been behind several attempted attacks on churches in Syria since Assad's fall, but this was the first to succeed, another security source told Reuters.
Syria's state news agency cited the health ministry as saying that 52 people were also injured in the blast.
A livestream from the site by Syria's civil defence, the White Helmets, showed scenes of destruction from inside the church, including a bloodied floor and shattered pews and masonry.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led the offensive against Assad before taking over in January for a transitional phase, has repeatedly said he will protect minorities.
'We unequivocally condemn the abhorrent terrorist suicide bombing at the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus, Syria,' the Greek foreign ministry said in a statement.
'We demand that the Syrian transitional authorities take immediate action to hold those involved accountable and implement measures to guarantee the safety of Christian communities and all religious groups, allowing them to live without fear.'
Islamic State had previously targeted religious minorities, including a major attack on Shiite pilgrims in Sayeda Zainab in 2016 — one of the most notorious bombings during Assad's rule.
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The latest assault underscores the group's continued ability to exploit security gaps despite the collapse of its territorial control and years of counterterrorism efforts.
With inputs from agencies

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