A suicide bombing and shooting at a packed Orthodox church in Damascus on Sunday has left at least 22 people dead and 63 others injured, in what officials are calling a “heinous terrorist act” by a suspected Islamic State (IS) member.
The unprecedented attack occurred during a Sunday service at Saint Elias Church in the Dwelaa district — marking the first assault of its kind inside a church in the Syrian capital since the outbreak of the country’s civil war in 2011. It is also the first major incident since Islamist-led forces overthrew former President Bashar al-Assad in December.
According to Syria's interior ministry, the attacker entered the church, opened fire on worshippers, and then detonated an explosive belt. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and terror, with children and elderly congregants among those caught in the blast. “People tried to stop him before he blew himself up,” said survivor Lawrence Maamari.
AFP journalists at the scene reported shattered pews, blood-soaked floors, and the remains of icons scattered amid the wreckage. Security forces quickly cordoned off the area as first responders transported the wounded.
Authorities have launched a full investigation. Interior Minister Anas Khattab said the incident was a “desperate attempt to destabilise the country and undermine national unity.” He confirmed that specialised teams are pursuing the leads, adding that recent intelligence suggests IS has shifted to targeting strategic sites, particularly minority communities.
The international community swiftly condemned the attack. The UN’s Special Envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, called it a “heinous crime” and demanded a thorough investigation. The United States, France, Turkey, and Egypt also expressed outrage and reiterated calls for Syria’s new leadership to protect minority communities and uphold religious freedom.
The Orthodox Patriarchate in Damascus urged authorities to take full responsibility for the violation of sacred spaces and ensure the safety of all citizens. Syria’s Christian population has declined dramatically—from around one million before the war to under 300,000 today—due to years of violence, displacement, and emigration.
As families continue searching for missing loved ones and mourning the dead, the attack has raised serious concerns over security in a nation still scarred by more than a decade of civil war and extremist violence.