Islamic State suicide bomber behind church attack in Syria, at least 15 lifeless: Interior Ministry

Syria’s Interior Ministry mentioned a member of the Islamic State group was behind Sunday’s (June 22, 2025) attack on a church in Damascus, which civil defence reported had killed at least 15 individuals.

It is the primary attack of its sort in the Syrian capital since Islamist-led forces toppled long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, as safety stays one of many best challenges for the nation’s new authorities.

AFP correspondents at the scene noticed first responders transporting individuals from the positioning, with destruction at the church together with shattered wooden from fittings and pews, icons strewn on the bottom and swimming pools of blood.

People and Civil Defence members examine the harm after a blast rocked the Mar Elias Church, in line with witnesses, in the Dweila neighbourhood of Damascus, Syria, on June 22, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
Reuters

The Interior Ministry mentioned in a press release that “a suicide attacker affiliated with the Daesh (IS) terrorist group entered the Saint Elias church in the Dwelaa area of the capital Damascus, where he opened fire and then blew himself up with an explosive belt”.

Syrian Civil Defence mentioned in a press release that the attack killed “more than 15 people and a number of wounded, according to a preliminary toll”.

One man instructed AFP exterior the church that “someone entered from outside carrying a weapon” and commenced capturing, including that folks “tried to stop him before he blew himself up”.

Ziad (40) mentioned from a store throughout from the church that he heard gunfire then an explosion, including that “we saw fire in the church and the remains of wooden benches thrown all the way to the entrance”.