By Melanie Wilcox
A suspected ISIS suicide bomber unleashed carnage inside a Damascus church Sunday, killing at least 22 people and wounding over 50 others during mass, Syrian officials said.
The explosion ripped through the Mar Elias Church in Dweil’a, on the outskirts of Syria’s capital, during a packed prayer service. The attacker — believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State group — stormed into the building, opened fire on worshippers, and then detonated an explosives vest, according to the Syrian Interior Ministry. (RELATED: US, Israel Conduct Dozens Of Strikes, Hit Over 75 Targets In Wake Of Syria’s Regime Collapse)
A suicide bomber just blew himself up at a Church in Syria. Dozens kiIIed and injured.
Syrian Interior Ministry says ISIS linked group is behind it. pic.twitter.com/lvzyePeEWG
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 22, 2025
“He was shooting at the church … he then went inside the church and blew himself up,” said Rawad, a local man who spoke with the Associated Press, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Photos released by Syria Civil Defence (the White Helmets) showed pews splintered, bloodied, and surrounded by rubble. Some media reports said children were among the dead.
A massacre has left more than 15 people dead and several others injured, according to initial reports, following a terrorist bombing that struck the Mar Elias Church in the Al-Dweilaa neighborhood of #Damascus on Sunday, June 22. #WhiteHelmets teams worked to transport bodies to… pic.twitter.com/TOt170alqi
— The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) June 22, 2025
The attack is the first major suicide bombing inside Damascus since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December. His successor, interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, condemned the violence and vowed to root out remaining terror cells.
Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mostafa called the attack “cowardly,” promising that “the state will exert all efforts to protect society from all attacks threatening its safety,” Al Jazeera reported.
The United Nations, France, and Turkey all swiftly condemned the bombing, calling it a blatant attempt to destabilize Syria during a fragile period of rebuilding, Al Jazeera reported. U.N. envoy Geir Pedersen called the attack a “heinous crime” and urged a full investigation.
USG @MiguelMoratinos strongly condemns the heinous attack on Sunday on Mar Elias Greek Orthodox church in Dweil’a on the outskirts of Damascus.
🔗 Full statement ⬇️https://t.co/q2r3ITXm4N
— UNAOC – United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (@UNAOC) June 22, 2025
.@GeirOPedersen Condemns in strongest possible terms terrorist attack at St. Elias Church in Damascus, which killed & injured civilians who were attending mass..He sends deepest condolences to families of victims & his hope for recovery of those injured. https://t.co/HaTkvlpNKg
— Jenifer Vaughan (Fenton) (@jeniferfenton) June 22, 2025
Authorities believe two other suspects may have been involved, though they reportedly fled the scene before the blast.
