ISIS terrorists shattered the peace of Damascus as a suicide bomber stormed an Orthodox church, opening fire on Christian worshippers before detonating an explosive vest that killed 20 people and wounded 52 others, with helpless children among the victims.
Key Takeaways
- An ISIS-affiliated suicide bomber attacked Mar Elias Church in Damascus, killing at least 20 Christians and wounding 52 others
- The terrorist opened fire on worshippers before detonating an explosive vest despite churchgoers’ attempts to stop him
- Children were reportedly among the victims, with eyewitnesses describing bodies being “blown to bits.”
- This marks the first successful jihadist attack on a Christian church in Syria since the transition to the interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government
- Syria’s 500,000 Christians continue to face persecution despite promises of protection for religious minorities
Brutal Attack Targets Vulnerable Christians
The devastating attack occurred at Mar Elias Church in the Dweila district on the outskirts of Damascus, where the ISIS terrorist executed a coordinated assault on unsuspecting worshippers. Witnesses reported that the attacker entered the church armed with weapons before unleashing deadly violence. “Someone entered carrying a weapon,” reported a witness at the scene, “tried to stop him before he blew himself up.” The courageous attempt by church members to intervene tragically failed as the terrorist detonated his explosive vest, causing catastrophic casualties.
Another witness, identified only as Rawad, provided a harrowing account of the assault: “He was shooting at the church … he then went inside the church and blew himself up,” highlighting the deliberate and calculated nature of the attack. The aftermath revealed a scene of unspeakable carnage, with graphic footage showing bloody bodies strewn among destroyed pews. The Syrian Interior Ministry has officially attributed the attack to ISIS, while rescue teams continue recovering bodies from the devastated church building.
Christian Community Left Reeling
The attack has sent shockwaves through Syria’s Christian community, which numbers approximately 500,000 and faces regular persecution. Issam Nasr, a witness to the horror, expressed the peaceful nature of the Christian community amid the violence directed at them: “We have never held a knife in our lives. All we ever carried were our prayers.” This poignant statement underscores the vulnerability of Christians in a region where they face threats from both government oppression and Islamic extremism, with Open Doors ranking Syria 18th on its list of countries where Christians endure the most persecution.
“This cowardly act goes against the civic values that bring us together,” stated Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mostafa, condemning the attack. Despite such official condemnations, the reality remains that Syria’s Christian population continues to face existential threats. Some witnesses reported that the attacker did not act alone, claiming he was accompanied by two others who fled the scene, raising concerns about potential follow-up attacks and the presence of ISIS sleeper cells throughout the country.
Failed Promises of Protection
The attack represents a significant security failure for Syria’s interim government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has repeatedly vowed to protect religious minorities since taking office in January 2025. Despite these promises and Syria’s recent international reintegration, including the lifting of sanctions by the United States and European Union, the government appears unable to guarantee the safety of its Christian citizens. This deadly bombing marks the first successful jihadist attack on a Syrian Christian church in months, though ISIS has attempted other assaults that were thwarted.
“In the strongest possible terms, the terrorist attack at St. Elias Church,” condemned United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen, joining a chorus of international voices, including Turkey and France, in denouncing the violence. However, these diplomatic statements offer little comfort to a Christian community that continues to bear the brunt of religious persecution while the world largely looks away from their suffering at the hands of Islamic extremists.
