No group immediately claimed responsibility.
In Dweir al-Shaykh Saad, Syria, a suicide bomber carried out an attack at a Greek Orthodox church where worshippers had gathered, resulting in a tragic incident. The assailant first opened fire and then detonated an explosive vest, causing the death of at least 22 individuals and injuring 63 others. Reports from state media highlighted the devastating impact of the attack in Dweil’a, on the outskirts of Damascus, specifically inside the Mar Elias Church.
SANA, the state media outlet, referred to information from the Health Ministry regarding the number of casualties. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in Britain, provided an alternative account stating that at least 19 people lost their lives and many others sustained injuries, although precise figures were not given. Tragically, it was noted that children might have been among those affected by the violence.
This assault on the church marked a significant and distressing event as it was a rare occurrence in Syria in recent times. The incident unfolded amidst efforts by Damascus, now predominantly under Islamist control, to gain the support of minority groups. With President Ahmad al-Sharaa facing challenges in asserting his authority across the nation, there are growing concerns about the presence of dormant extremist factions within the conflict-ridden country.
No group immediately claimed responsibility Sunday. Syrian Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine Al-Baba said in a news conference that their preliminary investigation points to the extremist Islamic State group. The ministry said one gunmen entered the church, fired at the people there before detonating himself with an explosives vest, echoing some witness testimonies.
“The security of places of worship is a red line,” he said, adding that IS and remaining members of the ousted Assad government are trying to destabilize Syria.
Syrian Information Minister Hamza Mostafa condemned the attack, calling it a terrorist attack.
“This cowardly act goes against the civic values that brings us together,” he said on X. “We will not back down from our commitment to equal citizenship … and we also affirm the state’s pledge to exert all its efforts to combat criminal organizations and to protect society from all attacks threatening its safety.”
Witnesses said the gunman with his face covered entered and fired at the people. When a crowd charged at him to remove him from the church, he detonated his explosives at the entrance.
Syria’s Social Affairs and Labor Minister Hind Kabawat, the country’s Christian and female minister, met with the clergy at the church in the evening to express her condolences.
“People were praying safely under the eyes of God,” said Father Fadi Ghattas, who said he saw at least 20 people killed with his own eyes. “There were 350 people praying at the church.”
However, Meletius Shahati, a church priest, said there was a second gunman who shot at the church door before the other person detonated himself.
Issam Nasr who was praying at the church said he saw people “blown to bits.”
“We have never held a knife in our lives. All we ever carried were our prayers,” he said.
Security forces and first-responders rushed to the church. Panicked survivors wailed, as one lady fell to her knees and burst into tears. A photo circulated by Syrian state media SANA showed the church’s pews covered in debris and blood.
Chehayeb reported from Beirut.
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