A suicide bombing attributed to ISIS killed 25 civilians and injured over 60 others Sunday evening, June 22, when a militant detonated an explosive belt inside Mar Elias Church in the Duwaila neighborhood of Damascus.
The government said the wounded were transferred to local hospitals, where emergency teams were placed on full alert. Health officials confirmed that the condition of the injured is under constant medical supervision.
Interior Ministry: Attack Aimed at All Syrians
Speaking at a press conference, Interior Ministry spokesman Nouruddin al-Baba condemned the bombing as a “heinous, criminal” act that deliberately targeted civilians regardless of sect or background.
“This attack does not strike one group. It targets Syria’s unity,” Baba said. He confirmed preliminary investigations point to ISIS involvement and described the bombing as part of a pattern of failed attempts to strike religious sites, citing recent thwarted plots at the Sayyida Zeinab Shrine and Maaloula Church.
According to Baba, the attacker opened fire before entering the church and detonating his explosives. Security forces later secured the area, launched a full investigation, and began efforts to identify the bomber and the origins of the explosive materials.
Government Responds With Heightened Security and Diplomatic Warnings
In response to the bombing, Syrian authorities initiated a sweeping security lockdown in the capital. Checkpoints were erected across Damascus, particularly around places of worship. Roads leading to the blast site were closed, and access to the church was strictly limited.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a directive to all diplomatic missions in Syria, prohibiting any visits to the bombing site without prior coordination. The ministry cited ongoing investigations and safety concerns as reasons for the restriction.
National Unity Emphasized Amid Mourning
Top government officials, including Interior Minister Anas Khattab and Damascus Governor Maher Marwan, visited the site and hospitals treating the wounded. Khattab reaffirmed that justice will be pursued and that the attack will not weaken Syria’s civil peace.
“The Church of Mar Elias will be restored, and our unity will not be shaken,” Marwan said. Other regional governors echoed similar sentiments, framing the bombing as an attack on Syria’s social fabric, not just a single religious site or people.
Minister of Health Musab al-Ali assured the public that medical services are fully mobilized, while Minister of Justice Mazhar al-Wais pledged that those behind the bombing would face full accountability under the law.
Universally Condemned
Officials from multiple ministries and provinces issued strong condemnations. Culture Minister Muhammad Yassin Saleh called for unity “in the face of terrorism and sedition,” and Minister of Social Affairs Hind Qabat emphasized that the bombing struck at the heart of Syria’s pluralism.
“This was an attack on all Syrians,” Qabat said. “But our response will be unity, not fear.”
As investigations continue, Syrian authorities stress that Sunday’s attack, while devastating, will not succeed in destabilizing the country. The Ministry of Interior reaffirmed its commitment to securing religious sites and preventing future attacks.
