At least 25 individuals have lost their lives and over 52 others have been injured following a terrorist attack at the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus, Syria, as reported by the country’s health ministry. The Syrian Ministry of Interior has attributed the attack to a suicide bomber linked to the ISIS group, who opened fire on churchgoers before detonating an explosive vest.
The incident occurred during a mass, resulting in widespread destruction and chaos, as seen in video footage circulated on social media, which showed bloodshed and debris within the church.
This marks a significant event, being the first attack of its kind in Damascus since the overthrow of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December, which had led to more than a decade of civil conflict. Emergency teams, known as the White Helmets, have been deployed to assist in transferring victims to hospitals and securing the area.
In a statement, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch condemned the attack, describing it as an act of “treachery”. The church expressed its condolences for the victims, praying for the healing of the injured and affirming its commitment to faith amidst fear and intimidation.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged the interim Syrian government to implement effective measures to safeguard all religious and ethnic minorities in the region. However, despite promises from Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa to protect religious freedoms, the nation has faced two recent violent outbreaks, in addition to the latest bombing incident.
Al-Sharaa, a former member of the extremist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has been called out for failing to uphold these commitments as the Islamist group continues to be recognized as a terrorist organization by various international bodies.
Geir O. Pedersen, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, expressed his outrage at the attack, urging for solidarity against terrorism and extending condolences to the bereaved families and wishes for recovery to the injured. Similarly, the US Special Envoy for Syria denounced the violence, emphasising that such acts have no place in the vision of unity and tolerance that Syrians are striving for.
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation from various nations and foreign ministries, including statements from countries such as Turkey, Jordan, Greece, and the UAE. The ongoing civil war in Syria complicates the accurate assessment of the Christian population, with the Greek Orthodox community being the largest Christian group in the country, believed to consist of several hundred thousand followers.