At least 22 people have been killed and over 50 injured in a suicide bombing at the Greek Orthodox Church of Mar Elias in the Dweila district of Syria’s capital, Damascus. This is the first attack of its kind in the capital since Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in December last year.
According to Syria’s Ministry of Interior, the perpetrator was identified as a member of the terrorist group Islamic State (ISIS). He reportedly entered the church during an ongoing service, opened fire, and then detonated an explosive vest strapped to his body.
An anonymous security source stated that a second man may have been involved in the attack, although the presence of a second assailant has not been officially confirmed.
The Syrian Ministry of Health reported that 52 people were injured in the blast, several of them critically. Among the victims are children, women, and elderly individuals who had gathered for Sunday’s service.
Widespread Destruction and Shock in the Community
Images from the scene, captured by the civil rescue group White Helmets, show extensive devastation inside the church – bloodstained floors, shattered pews, and broken masonry. The church is one of the oldest in the area and is considered a vital meeting place for the Christian minority in Damascus.
This is the first successful suicide bombing against a church in Syria since the new phase of the civil war began following Assad’s fall. ISIS has previously attempted similar attacks, but they have until now been thwarted by security forces.
International Condemnation and Demands for Minority Protection
The attack has sparked strong reactions both within Syria and internationally. Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a forceful condemnation in an official statement:
“We unequivocally condemn the abhorrent terrorist attack on the Greek Orthodox Mar Elias Church in Damascus. We call on the Syrian transitional authorities to immediately identify and bring those responsible to justice, and to take measures to ensure the safety of Christians and all religious minorities in the country.”
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who assumed leadership after Assad’s ousting and currently leads the transitional government, has repeatedly pledged to protect religious minorities and to build a society where all groups can live in safety. However, Sunday’s attack shows that the security situation remains deeply unstable.
The Lingering Shadow of ISIS
Despite losing its territorial holdings and years of counterterrorism operations, ISIS continues to exploit security gaps to carry out attacks. The group has a specific focus on religious targets, as seen in the 2016 massacre of Shiite pilgrims in Sayeda Zainab – one of the deadliest attacks during Assad’s rule.
Sunday’s bombing serves as a painful reminder that attacks on Christians in Syria and across the Middle East are far from over. Over the past two decades, the Christian population in the region has declined by 80%, and the ongoing silence from the media, political leaders, and Western institutions is deafening.
Is it the “wrong” type of perpetrator to trigger outrage and protests in the streets?