Saudi Arabia says monitoring events in Iran with ‘great concern' after US strikes

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry stresses on the need to exert all effort to exercise self-restraint, deescalate and avoid escalation adding that it is monitoring the situation in Iran with 'great concern' after the US struck Iranian nuclear sites.
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Al Arabiya

32 minutes ago

• Al Arabiya

Syria says ISIS behind Damascus church attack, at least 20 killed

At least 20 people were killed and dozens injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Syria's capital Damascus on Sunday, health authorities and security sources said. It was the first suicide bombing in Damascus since Bashar al-Assad was toppled by opposition forces in December. Syria's interior ministry said the suicide bomber was a member of ISIS. He entered the church, opened fire and then detonated his explosive vest, a ministry statement added. Syria's foreign ministry condemned the attack, calling it an attempt to undermine coexistence in the multi-sectarian, multi-ethnic country. Syria considers 'this criminal act, which targeted members of the Christian community, a desperate attempt to undermine national coexistence and to destabilize the country,' the foreign ministry said in a statement. Saudi Arabia condemned the attack, describing it as a 'terrorist' act. In a statement, the Saudi foreign ministry 'emphasized the Kingdom's rejection of attacks on places of worship, the terrorizing of civilians, and the shedding of innocent blood,' and 'affirmed the Kingdom's support for the sisterly Syrian Arab Republic against all forms of violence, extremism, and terrorism.' The ministry also offered 'its sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Syria, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.' The US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack berated the militants behind the attack, calling it an act of 'cowardice.' 'These terrible acts of cowardice have no place in the new tapestry of integrated tolerance and inclusion that Syrians are weaving,' Barrack posted on X of the attack. '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.' A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two men were involved in the attack, including the one who blew himself up. ISIS has been behind several attempted attacks on churches in Syria since al-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 defense, 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 al-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.' ISIS had previously targeted religious minorities, including a major attack on Shia pilgrims in Sayeda Zainab in 2016 – one of the most notorious bombings during al-Assad's rule. 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.

Al Arabiya

33 minutes ago

• Al Arabiya

China warns of ‘spillover of war' risk in Iran-Israel conflict

China urged Iran and Israel on Monday to de-escalate in order to prevent the 'spillover' of their war, as fighting between the two foes raged for the 11th day. 'The Chinese side urges the parties to the conflict to prevent the situation from escalating repeatedly, resolutely avoid the spillover of war, and return to the path of political resolution,' foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said. China said the international community must do more to prevent fighting between Iran and Israel from impacting the global economy, noting that the region and surrounding waters are important for international trade routes. 'China calls on the international community to make greater efforts to promote the de-escalation of the conflict and prevent regional instability from having a greater impact on global economic development,' Jiakun said.

Al Arabiya

33 minutes ago

• Al Arabiya

Erdogan says won't let terror ‘drag Syria back to instability'

Turkey will not allow extremists to drag Syria back into chaos and instability, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday after a suicide attack killed 22 at a Damascus church. 'We will never allow our neighbor and brother Syria... be dragged into a new environment of instability through proxy terrorist organizations,' he said, vowing to support the new government's fight against such groups. He did not explain what he meant by 'proxy' groups but vowed that Turkey would 'continue to support the Syrian government's fight against terrorism.' The Damascus government blamed Sunday night's shooting and suicide attack -- the first of its kind in the Syrian capital since the fall of strongman Bashar al-Assad six months ago -- on ISIS. It cast the attack as a bid to 'undermine national coexistence and to destabilize the country,' which only began emerging from the post-civil war chaos after al-Assad's ouster six months ago. Turkey was a key backer of the anti-government forces who ousted al-Assad under the leadership of Ahmed al-Sharaa, now the interim president, and has repeatedly offered its operational and military to fight ISIS and other militant threats.