A suicide bombing in the Mar Elias Church in Dweil’a on the outskirts of Damascus has left at least 20 people killed, with the Syrian Interior Ministry accusing the Islamic State for the attack.
According to reports, a member of the IS group entered the church and began firing at those gathered for the Sunday mass, before detonating his explosive vest.
As rescue missions are still underway, the death toll is expected to rise, with children among the reported casualties. SANA, the official state agency, suggest about 50 were left wounded.
This is one of the first attacks in Syria since the formation of the new Syrian interim government, which followed the fall of the Assad regime last year.
Hamza al-Mostafa, Syrian Information Minister, posted on X, saying, “This cowardly act goes against the civic values that bring us together,” and called this a “terrorist” attack.
United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O Pederson, also condemned the attack and called on the interim government to lead a full investigation into the matter.
The current interim government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has been working to gain support within minority groups, while struggling to exert authority over the country. Civilians fear the presence of various sleeper cell groups, as they work to rebuild their lives after 14 years of being in a civil war.
Following President al-Sharaa's appointment, the US and the European Union lifted sanctions that were initially imposed on former President Bashar al-Assad. This has led to significant development in Syria, as it steps back into the international political ecosystem.
International condemnation for the attack rained in, with the Turkish Foreign Ministry calling this an attempt to derail Syrian progress and development. The French Foreign Ministry further expressed “full solidarity with the Syrian people, who hope that Syria will find its way back to peace.”
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