19 Reported Dead After Suicide Bomber Targets Orthodox Church in Damascus, Syria

A suicide bomber targeted a Greek Orthodox church in Damascus, Syria, on Sunday, killing over a dozen churchgoers. 

Reports on the number of deaths vary, but the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 19 were killed in the terrorist attack.

Syrian officials attributed the attack to the Islamic State.

According to witnesses, the bomber entered the church with a gun and fired at people before detonating his explosive vest.

Photos from inside the church show the aftermath of the horrific scene.

Via @pressrahhal:

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

Syrian Minister of Information Hamzah Almustafa condemned the violence in a statement, calling it a “cowardly act.”

We strongly condemn the terrorist bombing that targeted a church in Dweileh, Damascus, and offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. This cowardly act contradicts the values ​​of citizenship that unite us all. We, as Syrians, affirm the importance of national unity and civil peace, and call for strengthening the bonds of brotherhood among all components of society.

We will not waver from our commitment to equal citizenship, which seeks to build a nation of security and stability. We also affirm the state’s pledge to exert all efforts to combat criminal organizations and ensure the protection of society from any attacks that threaten its safety.

ندين بشدة التفجير الإرهابي الذي استهدف كنيسة في الدويلعة بدمشق، ونتقدم بأحر التعازي لذوي الضحايا. إن هذا العمل الجبان يتعارض مع قيم المواطنة التي تجمعنا جميعًا. نحن، كسوريين، نؤكد على أهمية الوحدة الوطنية والسلم الأهلي، وندعو إلى تعزيز روابط التآخي بين جميع مكونات المجتمع.
لن…

— Hamzah Almustafa (@HmzhMo) June 22, 2025

Per AP:

The explosion in Dweil’a in the outskirts of Damascus took place as people were praying inside the Mar Elias Church. SANA, citing the Health Ministry, said that at least 53 others were wounded. Britain-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there were at least 19 peopled killed and dozens of others wounded, but did not give exact numbers. Some local media reported that children were among the casualties.

The attack on the church was the first of its kind in Syria in years, and comes as Damascus under its de facto Islamist rule is trying to win the support of minorities. As President Ahmad al-Sharaa struggles to exert authority across the country, there have been concerns about the presence of sleeper cells of extremist groups in the war-torn country.

No group immediately claimed responsibility Sunday, but the Syrian Interior Ministry said an extremist from the Islamic State group entered the church, fired at the people there before detonating himself with an explosives vest, echoing some witness testimonies

A witness who identified himself as Rawad told AP he saw the attacker who was accompanied by two others who fled as he was driving near the church.

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