A suicide bombing at a Greek Orthodox church in Damascus on Sunday has left at least 19 people dead and dozens more wounded, in what Syrian officials are calling one of the deadliest attacks on Christians in the capital in years. The explosion occurred during a service at the Mar Elias Church in the Dweil’a neighborhood, a predominantly Christian area on the outskirts of Damascus.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, confirmed the death toll at 19, though local reports vary and government sources have cited over 50 injured, some critically. Among the casualties are reportedly children and elderly worshippers.
Photos from inside the church of St. Elias after a terrorist blew himself up inside it, which led to victims
In Al-Duwaila neighbourhood in the Syrian capital Damascus pic.twitter.com/5s29pSHCW5
— Ahmed Rahhal أحمد رحال (@pressrahhal) June 22, 2025
According to witness accounts and statements from Syrian authorities, the attacker entered the church armed with a firearm and began shooting before detonating an explosives vest. Photos from the scene show shattered pews, scorched walls, and bloodstained floors — a stark reminder of the country’s fragile security situation despite years of relative calm in the capital.
The Syrian Interior Ministry attributed the attack to the Islamic State, stating that the bomber was a member of the extremist group. No organization has formally claimed responsibility as of late Sunday, but the method and target are consistent with previous ISIS tactics.
Witnesses say the attacker was accompanied by two others who fled the scene immediately after the bombing, prompting concerns about further plots or sleeper cells active in the city.
Syrian Minister of Information Hamzah Almustafa condemned the attack as a “cowardly act” and called for unity in the face of sectarian violence. In a public statement, Almustafa emphasized that this attack contradicts the values of equal citizenship and national unity:
“We strongly condemn the terrorist bombing that targeted a church in Dweileh, Damascus… We affirm the importance of national unity and civil peace, and call for strengthening the bonds of brotherhood among all components of society.”
The bombing marks a significant escalation in the threat to Christian minorities in Syria and comes at a time when President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s government is struggling to reassert full control across the country. Islamist elements, including remnants of ISIS, continue to exploit power vacuums in parts of Syria, particularly in rural and border regions.
