Damascus: A Christian congregation's Sunday prayers turned into a scene of horror after a suicide bomber affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS) carried out a devastating attack inside the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Damascus. The brutal assault, which occurred during a morning liturgy, claimed the lives of at least 20 worshippers and left over 50 injured, according to Syria's Ministry of Health.
Grisly video footage from the aftermath paints a picture of sheer devastation: shattered pews, blood-stained floors, and torn religious icons scattered amid smoke and debris. Many of the injured are reported to be children, and hospitals in Damascus are reportedly overwhelmed as emergency teams continue to work through the wreckage.
According to Syria’s Interior Ministry, the suicide bomber entered the church while firing his weapon indiscriminately before detonating the explosives strapped to his body. Investigators believe the attacker may have been accompanied by an accomplice who fled the scene. This marks the first suicide bombing in Damascus since the December military coup that ousted long-time President Bashar al-Assad, signaling a new phase of instability in the war-torn nation.
The terrorist act has drawn global condemnation. The Greek Foreign Ministry issued a strong statement denouncing the "heinous act of terror" and calling for Syrian authorities to swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice. “This barbaric attack against innocent worshippers highlights the urgent need to protect vulnerable Christian and minority communities across the Middle East,” the statement said.
France and Germany also expressed outrage over what they described as a "massacre of the faithful" and reiterated the need for international cooperation in defending religious freedom and combating extremist violence.
This attack comes just weeks after unidentified gunmen opened fire on the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Holy Belt in Homs, a historic Syrian Orthodox church roughly 160 kilometers from Damascus. That attack targeted a large cross in front of the cathedral, further deepening concerns about the systematic targeting of Syria’s Christian population.
While Syrian authorities have launched an investigation into Sunday’s bombing, the Christian community remains gripped with fear, facing a grim reality in a nation where places of worship have increasingly become scenes of carnage. Church leaders and human rights organizations are urging the global community to act swiftly to safeguard Syria's religious minorities as the country descends deeper into post-coup chaos and renewed sectarian violence.