At least 20 people were killed and more than 50 injured on Sunday after a suicide bomber detonated explosives inside the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus, Syria’s capital, in what is now the deadliest attack in the city in over a year.
According to Syria’s Interior Ministry, the attacker entered the church during a packed service in the Dweila district and triggered an explosive vest after firing shots and throwing grenades at worshippers. The explosion caused severe damage to the building’s interior and left bodies scattered among the pews.
Medical authorities and civil defense teams responded swiftly, evacuating victims to nearby hospitals. Among the wounded were women and children, several of whom remain in critical condition, according to hospital officials.
The Islamic State (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for the attack, marking its first large-scale operation in Damascus since the fall of the Assad regime in 2024. Syrian security forces have launched a manhunt for a possible second assailant, believed to have fled the scene.
Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa condemned the bombing as a “cowardly act of terror aimed at sowing sectarian chaos,” while religious leaders called for calm and unity. International condemnation quickly followed. The United Nations, France, Turkey, and Greece expressed outrage, urging Syria’s transitional government to strengthen protections for religious minorities and public spaces.
