Damascus, Syria – At least 25 people were killed and more than 50 others injured—including several children—following a suicide bombing during a church service in the outskirts of Damascus, Syrian authorities confirmed on Sunday.
The attack occurred at the Mar Elias Church in the Dweil’a district during mass, where dozens of worshippers had gathered for prayer. According to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Interior, the blast tore through the congregation, causing mass casualties, panic, and significant structural damage.
The Syrian Ministry of Interior has launched a formal investigation and extended condolences to the victims’ families.
“These terrorist acts will not halt the Syrian state’s efforts to achieve civil peace, nor will they deter Syrians from their commitment to unity and stability,” the ministry stated on social media.
Emergency response teams, including Syria Civil Defence units, remain on site, recovering bodies and attending to the wounded. Officials have warned that the death toll could rise as several victims remain in critical condition.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos in the immediate aftermath of the blast, with injured parishioners screaming for help and first responders navigating heavy debris and smoke.
Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mostafa condemned the bombing, calling it a “cowardly terrorist attack” that violates the country’s civic values.
“We will not back down from our commitment to equal citizenship and the fight against criminal organizations threatening our society,” he said in a social media statement.
The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, also denounced the attack, calling it a “heinous crime.”
“He takes note that Syrian interim authorities have attributed this attack to ISIL and calls for a full investigation and appropriate action by the authorities,” a statement from his office read.
Shortly after the incident, ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) claimed responsibility for the bombing via affiliated communication channels. Syrian security sources believe that active ISIL cells in the region may have orchestrated the assault, as the group remains present in scattered pockets across the country.
The bombing highlights the ongoing threat of terrorism in Syria and raises renewed concerns over the safety of religious minorities and vulnerable communities amid the country’s protracted instability.
