| Mar Elias Church attack | |
|---|---|
| Part of the aftermath of theSyrian civil war | |
 Mar Elias Church after the attack | |
 Interactive map of Mar Elias Church attack | |
| Location | 33°30′12″N36°19′12″E / 33.5032°N 36.3199°E /33.5032; 36.3199 Mar Elias Church,Dweilaa [ar], Damascus, Syria |
| Date | 22 June 2025 (2025-06-22) |
| Target | Church attendees |
Attack type | Suicide bombing, shooting |
| Weapons | Suicide vest,firearm |
| Deaths | 31 (including the perpetrator) |
| Injured | 54 |
| Perpetrator |  Islamic State(alleged) Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah(claimant)(alleged to be allied with theIslamic State)[1] |
| Assailant | Muhammad Zain al-Abidin Abu Uthman |
On 22 June 2025, at least one attacker opened fire and detonated anexplosive device inside theGreek Orthodox Mar Elias Church duringDivine Liturgy inDamascus, Syria, killing at least 30 people and injuring 54 others.
The SyrianMinistry of Interior said theIslamic State was responsible for thesuicide attack, whileSaraya Ansar al-Sunnah claimed responsibility.
The attack was the firstsuicide bombing in Damascus since thefall of the Assad regime in December 2024.[2][3] The new Islamist government, in an attempt to win over minorities and maintain control against terroristsleeper cells,[4] has tried to shore up order by aligning with rebel factions and arming neighborhood watch groups.[5]
Christians have been increasingly concerned that weapons are being freely carried around.[6] The attack came after Muslimsheikhs visited Damascus neighborhoods asking Christian residents to convert to Islam, and after killings elsewhere in March and May.[7] The Islamic State has been responsible for many unsuccessful attacks on churches in post-Assad Syria,[8] theymassacred the Shiite minority in Sayyidah Zaynab in 2016, and despite its 2019 defeat in Syria, has still carried out several attacks and taken advantage of security weaknesses.[9] According to Syrian Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba and Information Minister Hamza Mostafa, the Islamic State and the previous government want to destabilize Syria and attack its civic values.[4]
On 22 June 2025, on theSynaxis of All Saints of Antioch,[10] an attacker entered theMar Elias Church inDweilaa [ar],Damascus, Syria, and began shooting at the 350 people attending theDivine Liturgy,[4][8][9] detonating an explosive vest at the entrance as the crowd tried to push him out.[4] At some point, the attacker threw a grenade, according toMoussa Al-Khoury, Bishop ofDarayya.[9] The explosion caused much damage, breaking glass, destroyingpews, collapsing theiconostasis, scattering bodies and splattering blood on the walls, floor andicons.[11][12]
A church priest reported the presence of a second gunman,[13] while another witness saw two accomplices that fled before the attack began.[3]
According to the SyrianMinistry of Interior, theIslamic State was responsible.[14] In addition, the ministry claimed that the terrorists who attacked the church came fromal-Hawl refugee camp.[15]
No group initially claimed responsibility for the attack.[9] A few days later,Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah claimed responsibility for the attack via theirTelegram channel, and identified the attacker as Muhammad Zain al-Abidin Abu Uthman.[16][17] In the meantime, theSyrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that an injured attacker was taken toal-Mujtahid Hospital, where it was later discovered that he was affiliated with theSyrian Ministry of Defense and a native ofDeir ez-Zor Governorate.[18]
State media reported at least 25 people were killed and 63 others were injured, many seriously.[19][20] Local media said children were among the casualties.[21]Our Sunday Visitor later reported 30 parishioners were killed and 54 others were injured.[22]
On 23 June, Syria'sinterior ministry arrested an unspecified number of suspects near Damascus. Explosives and a booby-trapped motorcycle were also seized.[23] A day later, the interior ministry announced a series of raids targeting extremist hideouts inRif Dimashq, resulting in the capture of collaborators and logistics personnel identified through surveillance footage from the area.[24]
On 24 June, a memorial service was held for nine of the victims at the Holy Cross Church in Damascus. PatriarchJohn X spoke at the memorial service.[25]
Information ministerHamza al-Mustafa condemned the attack, calling it a targeted terrorist attack.[26][21]
TheDemocratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria condemned the attack, calling it a "despicable form of terrorism," and expressed condolences to the victims.[27]
TheGreek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch released a statement saying "The treacherous hand of evil struck this evening, claiming our lives, along with the lives of our loved ones who fell today asmartyrs during the evening divine liturgy."[28] PatriarchJohn X, speaking at the memorial service in Damascus, stated that the attack was a massacre, a heinous crime, and a targeting of a fundamental component of Syria. He asserted that Syrian Christians were not going anywhere after the attack. Speaking to the current president of SyriaAhmed al-Sharaa, the Patriarch regretted that there were no government officials at the crime scene other thanHind Kabawat, the only Christian in government. He appealed for the government to extend a hand to the Syrian Christian population in building the new Syria. He also said that this attack was the first of its kind in Syria since 1860.[29][30]
President al-Sharaa pledged a full security mobilization to bring the attackers to justice, stressing the need for national unity in defending the country's security and stability.[31]
Residents of Damascus condemned the attack and called for peace and protection.[32]
United Nations special envoyGeir Otto Pedersen condemned the attack, calling it a heinous crime and an act of terrorism.[33][3] TheArab League also condemned the attack.[28]Pope Leo XIV offered his condolences.[34]
The attack drew condemnations and condolences from other countries and groups including Turkey,[35]Palestine,[36] France,[3] Oman,[37] Egypt,[38] the UAE,[39] Lebanon,[40] Greece,[32] Cyprus,Georgia, Ukraine, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Austria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Iraq, Yemen, and Israel.[11][41]
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