The blast in Dweil’a on the outskirts of Syria’s capital was carried out as individuals had been praying contained in the Mar Elias Church.
A suicide bomber in Syria has carried out an assault inside a church full of individuals, killing at the very least 20 individuals and wounding dozens extra, in response to the Syria’s Ministry of Well being and safety officers.
The explosion in Dweil’a on the outskirts of Damascus occurred as individuals had been praying throughout mass contained in the Mar Elias Church on Sunday.
No group instantly claimed duty, however the Syrian Inside Ministry stated a fighter from the ISIL (ISIS) group entered the church and fired on the individuals there earlier than detonating himself with an explosives vest, echoing some witness testimonies.
The demise toll reported was a preliminary one. “Rescue groups from the Syria Civil Defence proceed to get well our bodies from the scene,” a press release on Telegram stated on Sunday.
Official state company SANA, citing the Well being Ministry, stated that at the very least 50 others had been wounded.
Some native media reported that youngsters had been among the many casualties.
The assault was the primary of its sort in Syria in years, and comes because the fledgling interim authorities led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa is making an attempt to win the assist of minorities.
As al-Sharaa struggles to exert authority throughout Syria, there have been issues concerning the presence of sleeper cells of teams like ISIL (ISIS) within the nation recovering from practically 14 years of devastating civil conflict that killed tons of of hundreds and displaced tens of millions.
Syria has made important inroads again into the worldwide fold since al-Sharaa turned president in January 2025, with each the USA and the European Union lifting sanctions from the period of ousted President Bashar al-Assad.
‘He was capturing on the church’
A witness who recognized himself as Rawad instructed The Related Press that he noticed the attacker, who was accompanied by two others who fled as he was driving close to the church.
“He was capturing on the church … he then went contained in the church and blew himself up,” he stated.
Safety forces and first responders rushed to the scene.
Panicked survivors wailed, as one girl fell to her knees and burst into tears.
Syrian Data Minister Hamza al-Mostafa condemned the blast, calling it a “terrorist” assault.
“This cowardly act goes in opposition to the civic values that convey us collectively,” he stated in a publish on X.
“We won’t again down from our dedication to equal citizenship … and we additionally affirm the state’s pledge to exert all its efforts to fight felony organisations and to guard society from all assaults threatening its security.”
France’s overseas ministry condemned the “despicable” assault. France “expresses its full solidarity with the Syrian individuals, who hope that Syria will discover its manner again to peace,” the ministry stated in a press release
Pictures circulated by the Syria Civil Defence confirmed the church’s inside space in ruins, with pews coated in particles and blood.
