A suicide bomber killed 25 people and wounded 63 others during an evening service at a Greek Orthodox church in Damascus on June 22, 2025, marking the first attack on a Syrian church since the fall of the Assad regime in December.
The attacker opened fire on worshippers at the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood before detonating an explosive vest, according to Syria’s Interior Ministry. The attack occurred during Sunday evening mass, with hundreds of believers gathered for the service.
Syria’s Interior Ministry attributed the attack to the Islamic State, though the group has not claimed responsibility. However, an IS splinter organization called Saraya Ansar al-Sunna later claimed the attack through social media, stating it was triggered by unspecified provocations by Christians in Damascus.
The attack has intensified fears among Syria’s Christian minority population. Father Baselios of nearby Saint Joseph Church was preaching when the shooting began. He described the fear as unspeakable, recounting how a child who lost family members rushed to him asking to be hidden.
Syrian authorities announced they dismantled the cell responsible for the bombing during raids that resulted in six arrests and two suspects being killed. Officials seized explosives, suicide vests, mines and ammunition during the operations. The government indicated it thwarted two other planned attacks by the same cell, including one targeting a Shia Muslim shrine in Damascus.
Saraya Ansar al-Sunna disputed the government’s claims about arrests through Telegram messages, calling them untrue and fabricated. The group warned that what is coming would not give authorities respite and that their soldiers were fully prepared. The organization has been linked to various sectarian attacks targeting Alawites, Christians, Druze and Shiite Muslims, including involvement in March massacres that killed as many as 1,700 mostly Alawite civilians.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa sent condolences to victims’ families and pledged to work around the clock to apprehend all participants and planners of the crime. Al-Sharaa, whose background as a former al-Qaeda member who led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has raised concerns among religious minorities, has repeatedly promised to protect minorities and build an inclusive state.
Social and Labour Affairs Minister Hind Kabawat visited Damascus hospitals following the attack. Kabawat noted, “Sedition is happening,” while fighting back tears and calling for Christians, Muslims and all Syrians to remain strong.
The funeral for nine victims from the church was held at Mar Elias Church on June 24, with the building packed as relatives held portraits of the deceased before placing them on coffins. Ceremonies for other victims were conducted elsewhere, as they came from different towns and villages.
Christians of all denominations gathered at Greek Orthodox churches across Syria on June 23 to remember victims and pray for those affected. Many churches were packed, with people also gathering outside, including Muslims standing in solidarity carrying signs reading “We are united” and “They want to divide us but we are one.”
The attack has raised questions about the new Syrian government’s ability to manage security and protect citizens, particularly religious minorities. This incident follows two previous waves of sectarian violence since Assad’s fall, including massacres in the Alawite-dominated coastal region in March and clashes between government forces and Druze militias in May.
International Crisis Group senior analyst Jerome Drevon indicated that IS has been making inroads in Syria, operating less as a hierarchical organization and more as a network of independent cells. The group had been mostly present in Syria’s eastern desert until US air strikes and Syrian government expansion pushed them into cities.
The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land condemned the attack, stating there was no religious, moral or rational justification for the slaughter of innocents in a sacred space. Pope Leo XIV expressed deep sorrow and offered prayers for victims and their families.
Foreign governments including the United States, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Israel, Greece and several European nations condemned the attack. US Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack called it an act of cowardice that had no place in the new Syria.
Christians in Syria have been receiving daily threats from fundamentalists, according to local partners working with Christian organizations. The pressure of Islamization remains present throughout the country, with church leaders now living on edge while awaiting potential future attacks.