At least 20 people were killed and 52 others wounded on Sunday following a suicide bombing at Saint Elias Church in the Dwelaa district of Damascus, Syria’s Interior Ministry has confirmed. The attacker, identified as a member of the Islamic State (IS), reportedly opened fire before detonating an explosive belt inside the church, which was filled with worshippers.
The blast marks the first major attack on a church in the capital since Syria’s civil war began in 2011, and the first large-scale terrorist incident in Damascus since Islamist-led groups overthrew President Bashar al-Assad in December.
Rescue workers and emergency personnel rushed to the scene, where AFP correspondents reported shattered pews, fallen icons, and pools of blood. The area was quickly cordoned off by security forces.
A witness, Lawrence Maamari, told AFP: “Someone came in with a weapon and started shooting. People tried to stop him before he blew himself up.”
The United Nations strongly condemned the attack. Geir Pedersen, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, described it as a “heinous crime” and called for a full investigation. France’s foreign ministry also denounced the bombing, reiterating its call for a peaceful, inclusive transition in Syria.
Syria’s Interior Minister, Anas Khattab, expressed condolences to the victims’ families, vowing that the perpetrators would face justice. “These acts of terror will not derail our efforts to achieve civil peace,” he said, adding that investigations are underway.
Eyewitnesses described chaos and fear as gunfire rang out, followed by a powerful explosion. “We saw fire in the church and the benches blown to the entrance,” said Ziad, a local shopkeeper.
Several people are still missing as desperate families continue to search for loved ones.
This attack underscores ongoing security challenges in post-Assad Syria. Authorities recently arrested IS cell members near Damascus and thwarted planned attacks on Christian and Shiite communities. The Islamic State, though territorially defeated in 2019, continues to launch sporadic assaults from desert hideouts.
Last month, IS claimed its first attack on the new Syrian government’s forces, signaling a potential resurgence of extremist threats.
