Suicide bombing hits Damascus church during mass

Shafaq News/ A suicide bomber detonated an explosive belt inside the Mar Elias Church in the Al-Duwailaa neighborhood of Damascus on Sunday, killing and injuring at least 65 people, according to local media outlets.

Eyewitnesses told Russia's Novosti that the church was targeted during an evening mass. Syrian state television, Al-Ikhbariya, confirmed the attack, stating that an individual wearing an explosive vest blew himself up inside the church. The Syrian Ministry of Interior later identified the bomber as affiliated with ISIS.

Syrian Internal Security Forces quickly cordoned off the area, while emergency teams launched rescue efforts to recover victims from the rubble. According to the Syrian Ministry of Health, the death toll rose to 13, with 53 others wounded.

#عاجل| 19 شهيد وعشرات الـ ـجـ ـرحـ ـى في الـ ـهـ ـجـ ـوم الإرهـ ـابـ ـي على #كنيسة_مار_إلياس بمنطقة #دويلعة في العاصمة #دمشق pic.twitter.com/NRpYGKHGtQ

— المرصد السوري لحقوق الإنسان (@syriahr) June 22, 2025