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Arab News
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Syria president vows those involved in church attack will face justice
DAMASCUS: Syrian leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa vowed Monday that those involved in a 'heinous' suicide attack on a Damascus church would face justice, as he called for unity in the diverse, multi-faith shooting and suicide bombing Sunday at the church in the working-class Dwelaa district of the Syrian capital killed 25 people and wounded 63, the health ministry authorities who took power after ousting longtime ruler Bashar Assad in December said the attacker was affiliated with the Daesh group, which has not yet claimed the attack.'We promise... that we will work night and day, mobilizing all our specialized security agencies, to capture all those who participated in and planned this heinous crime and bring them to justice,' interim President Sharaa said in a attack follows incidents of sectarian violence in recent months, with security one of the greatest challenges for the new attack 'reminds us of the importance of solidarity, and unity of the government and the people in facing all that threatens our nation's security and stability,' Sharaa Minister Anas Khattab and intelligence services chief Hussein Al-Salameh held an emergency meeting to discuss the investigations, the ministry said in a attack was the first suicide bombing in a church in Syria since the country's civil war erupted in 2011, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights was also the first attack of its kind in the Syrian capital since Assad's ouster.A prayer service at the church is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (1500 GMT).Since the new authorities took power, the international community has repeatedly urged them to protect minorities and ensure their participation in Syria's transition, particularly after the recent ministry spokesman Noureddine Al-Baba said Sunday that 'the security of places of worship is a red line, and all efforts will be made to ensure people's freedom to perform their religious rites.'Daesh 'aims to sow sectarian division and incite all components of Syrian society to take up arms, seeking to show that the Syrian state is unable to protect its communities and citizens,' he told a press top cleric of Syria's Sunni Muslim majority, Grand Mufti Osama Al-Rifai, condemned acts of violence and terrorism in a statement Monday.'We express our complete rejection of targeting places of worship and terrorizing believers,' he condemnation of the attack continued to roll in on Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkiye would not allow extremists to drag Syria back into chaos and instability, vowing that Turkiye would 'continue to support the Syrian government's fight against terrorism.'Turkiye, which is close to the new authorities, has repeatedly offered its operational and military support to fight Daesh and other militant President Emmanuel Macron also denounced the 'horrible' attack, while the EU said it 'stands in solidarity' with Syria in combating ethnic and religious violence.'It is a grave reminder of the need to intensify efforts against the terrorist threat and to ensure the enduring defeat of Daesh and other terrorist organizations,' spokesperson Anouar El Anouni Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed anger after the attack on the Greek Orthodox Church, calling on the new authorities 'to take concrete measures to protect all ethnic and religious minorities.'Syria's Christian community has shrunk from around one million before the war to fewer than 300,000 due to waves of displacement and seized large swathes of Syrian and Iraqi territory in the early years of the civil war, declaring a cross-border 'caliphate' in militants were territorially defeated in Syria 2019 but have maintained a presence, particularly in the country's vast desert.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
22 dead, dozens injured after suicide bombing of Syrian church
June 23 (UPI) -- More than 22 people were killed and another nearly 60 were injured when an Islamic State suicide bomber attacked a church in the Syrian capital of Damascus, officials said. The attack occurred Sunday at the St. Elias Church in the Al-Douweila neighborhood of the capital city. The Syrian ministry of interior said in a statement on X that the suicide bomber entered the church, opened fire and then detonated their explosive vest. Security forces reportedly rushed to the scene and cordoned off the entire area permitting specialized teams to begin their investigation, it said. "These terrorist acts will not deter the Syrian state's efforts to achieve civil peace, nor will they deter Syrians from their choice to unite in the face of all those who seek to undermine their stability and security," Interior Minister Anas Khattab said in a statement on X The casualty toll was initially reported by the ministry of health as nine dead and 13 injured, but the count has steadily climbed in the hours following the attack to 22 killed and 59 injured. Photos published to the health ministry's social media accounts show officials, including Assistant Minister of Health Hussein Al-Khatib, meeting with injured victims of the attack. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch posted graphic photos of the aftermath of the attack, showing blood-strewn floors and what appear to be the remains of bodies. "The arrow of lawlessness was unleashed and struck our souls in the night," it said in a statement. "We pray for the repose of the souls of the martyrs, for the healing of the wounded and for the comfort of the faithful of the Church." United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen condemned the attack in a statement, expressing his outrage at "this heinous crime." U.S. Ambassador to Syria Tom Barrack also offered his condolences. "These terrible acts of cowardice have no place in the new tapestry of integrated tolerance and inclusion that Syrians are weaving," he said on X. "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."
UPI
10 hours ago
- Politics
- UPI
22 dead, dozens injured after suicide bombing of Syrian church
Emergency services work at the scene of a suicide bombing at Mar Elias Church on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, on June 22, 2025. Photo by Mohammed Al Rifai/EPA-EFE June 23 (UPI) -- More than 22 people were killed and another nearly 60 were injured when an Islamic State suicide bomber attacked a church in the Syrian capital of Damascus, officials said. The attack occurred Sunday at the St. Elias Church in the Al-Douweila neighborhood of the capital city. The Syrian ministry of interior said in a statement on X that the suicide bomber entered the church, opened fire and then detonated their explosive vest. Security forces reportedly rushed to the scene and cordoned off the entire area permitting specialized teams to begin their investigation, it said. "These terrorist acts will not deter the Syrian state's efforts to achieve civil peace, nor will they deter Syrians from their choice to unite in the face of all those who seek to undermine their stability and security," Interior Minister Anas Khattab said in a statement on X The casualty toll was initially reported by the ministry of health as nine dead and 13 injured, but the count has steadily climbed in the hours following the attack to 22 killed and 59 injured. Photos published to the health ministry's social media accounts show officials, including Assistant Minister of Health Hussein Al-Khatib, meeting with injured victims of the attack. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch posted graphic photos of the aftermath of the attack, showing blood-strewn floors and what appear to be the remains of bodies. "The arrow of lawlessness was unleashed and struck our souls in the night," it said in a statement. "We pray for the repose of the souls of the martyrs, for the healing of the wounded and for the comfort of the faithful of the Church." United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen condemned the attack in a statement, expressing his outrage at "this heinous crime." U.S. Ambassador to Syria Tom Barrack also offered his condolences. "These terrible acts of cowardice have no place in the new tapestry of integrated tolerance and inclusion that Syrians are weaving," he said on X. "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."
Yemen Online
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Yemen Online
Syria: Deadly blast hits church in Damascus
At least 20 people were killed and 52 injured in an explosion by an apparent "Islamic State" suicide bomber at a church in the Syrian capital. A blast rocked the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Syria's capital, Damascus, on Sunday, according to witnesses. One witness told Reuters news agency that a suicide bomber detonated himself inside the church. Syrian state TV also reported that a suicide bomb caused the blast. Correspondents for the AFP news agency at the church said they saw shattered wood from fittings and pews and pools of blood on the ground. In a post on X, Interior Minister Anas Khattab said: "These terrorist acts will not deter the Syrian state's efforts to achieve civil peace, nor will they deter Syrians from their choice to unite in the face of all those who seek to undermine their stability and security." At least 20 reported dead Security sources said at least 20 people were killed and 52 injured, with the suicide bomber said to have been a member of the "Islamic State." The Interior Ministry said the bomber entered the church, opened fire and then detonated an explosive vest. However, there was conflicting information on how many suspects were involved in the attack. One security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two men were involved, including the one who blew himself up. Church Bishop Moussa Khoury said an attacker also threw a grenade into the church during the afternoon Mass. "He started shooting, went and then he blew up the church," he told The Associated Press. A witness who identified himself as Rawad went on to tell AP that he saw the attacker accompanied by two others, who fled as the attacker was driving near the church. First suicide bombing since toppling of Assad A livestream from the site by Syria's civil defence, the White Helmets, showed scenes of destruction from within the church, including a bloodied floor and shattered church pews and masonry. The incident marks the first suicide bombing inside Damascus since Bashar al-Assad was toppled by an Islamist-led rebel insurgency in December. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led the offensive against Assad beforetaking over in January for a transitional phase, has repeatedly said he will protect minorities during his tenure. Foreign ministers condemn violence France condemned the attack and reiterated its commitment to "a transition in Syria that allows Syrians, whatever their religion, to live in peace and security in a free, united, pluralistic, prosperous, stable and sovereign Syria," Foreign Ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine said. The United Nations special envoy for Syria also voiced his outrage at Sunday's deadly attack, calling for a full investigation and action by the authorities. A statement from the office of Geir Pedersen said he "condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attack at St. Elias Church"," and "expresses his outrage at this heinous crime."
The National
07-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Syria's interim President Al Sharaa makes first visit to Daraa, birthplace of country's uprising
Syria 's interim President, Ahmad Al Shara, made a symbolic visit on Friday to the southern city of Daraa – the cradle of the country's uprising, for the first time since longtime ruler Bashar Al Assad was ousted almost six months ago. State news agency Sana published video showing a cheering crowd greeting Mr Al Shara, who was seen waving and shaking hands with people during the visit, which came on the Muslim holiday of Eid Al Adha. Mr Al Shara and Interior Minister Anas Khattab visited Daraa's historic Omari mosque during the trip, the presidency said in a statement, releasing images of the visit showing the leader among the crowd. The mosque was one of the central locations where demonstrators gathered in 2011 before local security stormed the area. Sana also said Mr Shara met with local civil and military officials, as well as a delegation from the Christian minority. Provincial governor Anwar Al Zoabi said in a statement that the visit was 'an important milestone in the course of national recovery'. In 2011, protests erupted after the arrest and torture in Daraa of a group of schoolboys who had spray-painted anti-government graffiti. This sparked mass demonstrations against the Assad government. The regime's violent response to the peaceful protests was a key catalyst that transformed local protests into a nationwide uprising. On December 6, as Mr Al Shara's Islamist group Hayat Tahrir Al Sham led a lightning offensive on Damascus from the country's north-west, a coalition of armed groups from Daraa province was formed to help remove Mr Al Assad. He was toppled two days later.
