{"id":18192,"date":"2025-06-23T15:03:41","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T15:03:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dailywashingtoninsider.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/23\/suicide-bomber-attack-on-church-in-syria-kills-at-least-20-people\/"},"modified":"2025-06-23T15:03:41","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T15:03:41","slug":"suicide-bomber-attack-on-church-in-syria-kills-at-least-20-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailywashingtoninsider.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/23\/suicide-bomber-attack-on-church-in-syria-kills-at-least-20-people\/","title":{"rendered":"Suicide bomber attack on church in Syria kills at least 20 people"},"content":{"rendered":"

At least 20 people have been killed and 52 more are injured after a \u201cterrorist attack\u201d on a Greek Orthodox church in the Syrian capital on Sunday, according to the country\u2019s health ministry. <\/p>\n

He opened fire on the congregation of Mar Elias Church in Damascus, before \u201cdetonating himself using an explosive vest,\u201d the ministry said in a statement. <\/p>\n

A mass was being held at the church at the time of the attack, according to Syria\u2019s state news agency SANA. <\/p>\n

A video circulating on Syrian social media from inside the church shows dead bodies, significant destruction, shattered glass and broken chairs in the area where mass was being held, with blood visible throughout the scene. <\/p>\n

Syria\u2019s civil defense, popularly known as the White Helmets, said emergency teams were working to transfer the bodies to hospitals and secure the area. <\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
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A member of the Syrian security force inspects the damage after a reported attack at the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighbourhood of Damascus, Syria on June 22.<\/span> <\/div>
Firas Makdesi\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cThe treacherous hand of evil struck\u201d on Sunday, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch said in a statement, writing that \u201can explosion occurred at the entrance of the church, resulting in the deaths of numerous martyrs and causing injuries to many others who were inside the church or in its immediate vicinity.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWe offer our prayers for the repose of the souls of the martyrs, for the healing of the wounded, and for the consolation of our grieving faithful. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to our faith and, through that steadfastness, our rejection of all fear and intimidation,\u201d the church said. <\/p>\n

The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, expressed \u201coutrage\u201d at the \u201cheinous crime,\u201d his office said in a statement. <\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Pedersen calls on all to unite in rejecting terrorism, extremism, incitement and the targeting of any community in Syria. He sends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and his hope for the recovery of those injured,\u201d the statement said. <\/p>\n

The United States\u2019 Special Envoy for Syria, Thomas Barrack, called the attack an act of \u201ccowardice,\u201d saying in a statement that it has \u201cno place in the new tapestry of integrated tolerance and inclusion that Syrians are weaving.\u201d <\/p>\n

The foreign ministries of Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Israel, Greece, Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Palestinian Authority, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Ukraine, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands also spoke out in condemnation of the attack. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

This post appeared first on cnn.com<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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