A suicide bombing carried out by the Islamic State (IS) at a church in Damascus has left 22 people dead and at least 63 wounded, according to Syrian state media. The attack, which took place on Sunday night, marks the first major IS operation and suicide bombing in Syria since the ousting of former president Bashar al-Assad in December.
The assailant, identified as an IS affiliate, entered the Greek Orthodox Saint Elias Church in the capital’s old Christian quarter during evening prayers. After opening fire on worshippers, he detonated an explosive vest inside the sanctuary, the Syrian interior ministry reported. Witnesses also claimed a second gunman was present, firing into the congregation but ultimately fleeing the scene without detonating any explosives.
Damascus church attack survivor speaks
“People were praying safely under the eyes of God,” said Fadi Ghattas, a survivor who recounted witnessing the deaths of at least 20 people. “350 people were praying at the church.”
Shocking videos circulating on social media showed splintered pews and the bloodied bodies of churchgoers strewn across the aisles. Residents in surrounding neighbourhoods reported a powerful explosion, followed by the blare of sirens as emergency services and security forces swarmed the area.
“I saw people blown to bits,” said Issam Nasr, another congregant who survived the blast. “We have never held a knife in our lives. All we ever carried were our prayers.”
The attack follows months of IS propaganda and sporadic activity, during which the group sought to regroup and capitalise on the chaos that followed Assad’s removal. Syrian officials say the extremists managed to seize large caches of weapons abandoned by retreating regime forces.
Since taking power, Syria’s new Islamist-led government, composed of former leaders from the once-rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has launched a series of nationwide raids targeting IS cells. While still a rebel faction, HTS had fought IS for destabilising other opposition groups and radicalising fighters.
IS, in turn, has criticised the new leadership, accusing it of abandoning jihadist ideals. On its propaganda channels, IS shared images of President Ahmed al-Sharaa meeting US President Donald Trump in Riyadh earlier this year, labelling the gesture a betrayal.
In the wake of the attack, Syrian officials reiterated their commitment to protecting religious minorities. The Christian quarter of Damascus is typically guarded by security personnel stationed at every entrance. The government stated that a full investigation was underway.
“This cowardly act contradicts the values of citizenship that unite us all,” said Minister of Information Hamza al-Mustafa. “We, as Syrians, emphasise the importance of national unity and civil peace, and call for strengthening the bonds of fraternity between all components of society.”
The Syrian foreign ministry described the bombing as a “desperate attempt to undermine national coexistence and to destabilise the country”. Damascus municipality confirmed that security services were probing the circumstances surrounding the attack.
UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, condemned the bombing as a “heinous crime” and urged the authorities to carry out a thorough investigation.
Despite being in nominal control of the country, the new Syrian government continues to face difficulties asserting authority on the ground. The defence ministry is currently working to integrate various militias into a unified national army, while attempting to disarm radical factions refusing to join.
Since the fall of ISIS’s so-called caliphate, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led predominantly by Kurdish fighters, have taken the lead in anti-IS operations. Although cooperation between the SDF and the Syrian government has increased in recent months, officials admit such coordination remains limited.
The United States and other members of the international anti-IS coalition have warned of the group’s resurgence in Syria, citing Sunday’s attack as a grim reminder of the continued threat it poses.
