Deadly Assault on Mar Elias Church

A suicide bomber detonated an explosive vest inside the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox church in Dweil’a, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, on Sunday, killing at least 22 people and wounding 63 others, according to state media. The attack occurred during a prayer service attended by approximately 350 worshippers.

Conflicting Reports on Casualties

The Syrian state news agency SANA, citing the Health Ministry, reported the death toll, while the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated at least 19 were killed, with dozens more injured. Some local media suggested children were among the casualties, though exact figures remain unconfirmed.

Details of the Attack

The assailant, described as a gunman with a covered face, entered the church, opened fire on the congregation, and then detonated his explosives at the entrance when confronted by a crowd, witnesses said. Father Fadi Ghattas, a priest at the church, reported seeing at least 20 people killed. Another priest, Meletius Shahati, claimed a second gunman fired at the church door before the explosion.

Eyewitness Accounts

Issam Nasr, a worshipper present during the attack, described the horrific scene: “I saw people blown to bits. We have never held a knife in our lives. All we ever carried were our prayers.”

Suspected Perpetrators

No group immediately claimed responsibility, but the Syrian Interior Ministry pointed to the Islamic State (IS) group as the likely perpetrator. Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine Al-Baba stated at a news conference, “The security of places of worship is a red line,” accusing IS and remnants of the ousted Assad regime of attempting to destabilise Syria.

Government Response

Information Minister Hamza Mostafa condemned the attack on X, calling it a “cowardly act” that violates the country’s values of equal citizenship. “We will not back down from our commitment to combat criminal organisations and protect society,” he said. Syria’s Christian Social Affairs and Labor Minister, Hind Kabawat, visited the church on Sunday evening to offer condolences.

Broader Context

The attack marks the first of its kind on a church in Syria in years, raising concerns about extremist sleeper cells in the war-torn nation. Under President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s de facto Islamist rule, Damascus has been working to gain the support of minority communities, including Christians.

Aftermath at the Scene

Images circulated by SANA showed the church’s pews strewn with debris and blood, as security forces and first responders attended the scene. Panicked survivors were seen wailing, with one woman collapsing in tears. The attack underscores the fragile security situation in Syria as the government grapples with maintaining control and countering extremist threats.

  Asia, Catholic Church, Syria, violence