Israeli Defense Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Sunday condemned the suicide bombing in a church in the Dweila neighborhood of Syria’s capital that killed at least 20 people and injured dozens more earlier in the day.
“Horrified by the cowardly terrorist attack in the Mar Elias Church in Damascus today, in which at least 20 innocent worshippers were murdered,” he tweeted. “My condolences to the families of the victims and to the Christian community in Syria,” Sa’ar added.
Horrified by the cowardly terrorist attack in the #Mar_Elias church in Damascus today, in which at least 20 innocent worshippers were murdered.
— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) June 22, 2025
My condolences to the families of the victims and to the Christian community in Syria.
A Syrian security source told Reuters that two men were involved in the attack, one of whom had blown himself up.
Earlier, the country’s interior ministry said that a suicide bomber entered the church, opened fire then detonated his explosive vest, according to Reuters.
He was linked to Islamic State, the ministry added.
Apparently this was not the first attack attempted by ISIS since Bashar Assad’s regime fell in December, but it was the first one to claim victims, another security source told Reuters.
Greece’s foreign ministry issued a statement “unequivocally” condemning “the abhorrent terrorist suicide bombing at the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus, Syria.”
The ministry added, “Religious sites must never be targets for terror. Everyone has the right to practice their faith in complete peace and safety.”
It went on to demand that the Syrian transitional government “take immediate action” in holding those responsible accountable and ensuring the security of Christian communities and all religious groups.
We unequivocally condemn the abhorrent terrorist suicide bombing at Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus.
— Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών (@GreeceMFA) June 22, 2025
Religious sites must never be targets for terror. Everyone has the right to practice their faith in complete peace & safety. pic.twitter.com/1cY1Ks0HsC
A mass was being held at the church at the time of the attack, according to Syria’s state news agency SANA.
Footage from inside the church that surfaced on Syrian social media showed gory scenes of the deceased and significant destruction of the building, according to CNN.
U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack said the attack was an act of “cowardice” and has “no place in the new tapestry of integrated tolerance and inclusion that Syrians are weaving,” per CNN.
