At least 20 killed in the bombing of the church of Damascus, dozens of wounded | News of armed groups

The explosion in Dweil’a on the outskirts of the Syrian capital was carried out while people prayed inside the church Mar Elias.

A suicide bomber in Syria led an attack inside a church filled with people, killing at least 20 people and injuring dozens of others, according to the Ministry of Syria of Health and Security.

The explosion in Dweil’a on the outskirts of Damascus took place while people prayed during the mass inside the church Mar Elias on Sunday.

No group immediately claimed responsibility, but the Syrian Ministry of the Interior said that an fighter of the Isil group (ISIS) entered the church and had shot people there before exploding with an explosive vest, echoing certain witness testimonies.

The number of deaths reported was preliminary. “Syria’s civil defense rescue teams continue to recover the bodies of the premises,” a statement on Telegram said on Sunday.

Official State Agency Sana, citing the Ministry of Health, said that at least 50 other people had been injured.

Some local media reported that children were among the victims.

The attack has been the first of its kind in Syria for years, and comes as the nascent interim government led by President Ahmed Al-Sharaa is trying to gain the support of minorities.

While Al-Sharaa has trouble exercising authority through Syria, there have been concerns about the presence of dormant cells of groups like ISIL (ISIS) in the country recovering from almost 14 years of devastating civil war which killed hundreds of thousands and moved millions.

Syria has made significant breakthroughs in the international fold since Al-Sharaa became president in January 2025, the United States and the European Union Lifting sanction of the era of the President ousted Bashar al-Assad.

“ He pulled the church ”

A witness who identified himself as Rawad told the Associated Press that he had seen the attacker, who was accompanied by two others who had fled while driving near the church.

“He was shooting the church … He then entered the church and blew himself up,” he said.

The security forces and the first stakeholders rushed to the scene.

The panicked survivors groaned, while a woman fell on his knees and melted into tears.

Syrian Minister Hamza Al-Mostafa sentenced the explosion, appealing to a “terrorist” attack.

“This loose act goes against civic values ​​that bring us together,” he said in an article on X.

“We will not retreat from our commitment to equality of citizenship … and we also affirm the commitment of the State to exercise all its efforts to fight against criminal organizations and to protect society from all attacks threatening its security.”

The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen condemned “in the strongest possible terms, the terrorist attack of the St. Elias Church” and expressed “its indignation in the face of this odious crime”. His declaration also noted “that the Syrian interim authorities attributed this attack to ISIL and (he) calls for a complete investigation and an action by the authorities.”

The Turkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the “treacherous” attack was aimed at disrupting efforts to achieve stability and security in Syria.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the “despicable” attack. France “expresses its full solidarity with the Syrian people, who hopes that Syria will find its way to peace,” the ministry said in a statement.

Photos broadcast by the Civil Defense of Syria have shown the interior zone of the ruined church, with benches covered with debris and blood.