A suicide bombing claimed by the Islamic State in Damascus' Mar Elias Church resulted in at least 20 fatalities, crippling the new government's attempts to restore peace and stability in post-civil war Syria.
Suicide Bombing in Damascus Targets Church, Claims 20 Lives
Suicide Bombing in Damascus Targets Church, Claims 20 Lives
A devastating attack highlights the ongoing challenges for Syria's new government amidst rising sectarian tensions.
In a tragic incident on June 22, 2025, a suicide bomber attacked a Greek Orthodox Church service in Dweila, a neighborhood of Damascus, leaving at least 20 people dead and injuring over 50. The attacker opened fire on the congregants before detonating an explosive vest, marking the first suicide bombing in the capital since President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by a rebel coalition last December.
The Syrian authorities suggested links between the attacker and the Islamic State, a group that had previously controlled extensive territories in Syria. Despite the new government's efforts to assure stability and provide support to vulnerable religious minorities, sectarian tensions continue to escalate. Officials from the United Nations and the United States have raised concerns about remnants of the Islamic State exploiting the weakening of the Assad regime.
Eyewitnesses described the scene following the bombing as chaotic, with emergency responders and local residents rushing to aid victims. Harrowing images revealed blood-soaked floors and shrapnel littering the church walls, painting a grim portrait of the aftermath. The Syrian government has reportedly thwarted multiple attack plots in the weeks leading up to this incident, including some targeting Christian religious sites, reiterating the ongoing threat that looms over the nation's fragile stability.
The Syrian authorities suggested links between the attacker and the Islamic State, a group that had previously controlled extensive territories in Syria. Despite the new government's efforts to assure stability and provide support to vulnerable religious minorities, sectarian tensions continue to escalate. Officials from the United Nations and the United States have raised concerns about remnants of the Islamic State exploiting the weakening of the Assad regime.
Eyewitnesses described the scene following the bombing as chaotic, with emergency responders and local residents rushing to aid victims. Harrowing images revealed blood-soaked floors and shrapnel littering the church walls, painting a grim portrait of the aftermath. The Syrian government has reportedly thwarted multiple attack plots in the weeks leading up to this incident, including some targeting Christian religious sites, reiterating the ongoing threat that looms over the nation's fragile stability.
