ISIS Bombing Kills 25 at Damascus Church in Syria’s Worst Attack in Years

ISIS Bombing Kills 25 at Damascus Church in Syria’s Worst Attack in Years
………………

The British daily newspaper ‘The Guardian’ has reported new details about a deadly suicide bombing that struck the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus, killing at least 25 people and injuring 63. The attack, claimed by ISIS, occurred during an evening mass attended by over 150 worshippers in the city’s historic Christian quarter.

According to a Syrian Interior Ministry source, a gunman stormed the church, opened fire on congregants, and detonated an explosive vest in the main hall. Eyewitnesses say a second assailant also fired into the crowd but did not detonate an explosive, raising concerns about the level of planning involved.

The attack comes amid heightened security following the rise of a new Islamist-backed government that replaced former President Bashar al-Assad last December. Videos shared online showed scenes of devastation inside the church, with shattered pews and bloodstained walls, as emergency teams evacuated survivors and security forces sealed off the area.

UN envoy Geir Pedersen condemned the attack as a “heinous crime” and called for a full investigation. Despite the new government’s nominal control, armed factions—including extremist groups—remain active, complicating efforts to stabilize the capital and protect civilian institutions.