At least 13 killed after suicide bomb attack on busy church in Syria

WorldPolitics
23 Jun 2025 • 2:08 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • A suicide bomber attacked the Mar Elias Church in Dweil’a, near Damascus, Syria, on Sunday.
  • Syrian state media reported at least 13 people were killed and 53 wounded, while a war monitor cited at least 19 fatalities and dozens injured, with children reportedly among the victims.
  • The Syrian Interior Ministry stated an Islamic State extremist fired at worshippers before detonating an explosives vest inside the Church, an account supported by some witnesses.
  • This marks the first such attack in Syria in years, raising concerns about extremist sleeper cells as Damascus seeks to gain support from minority groups.
  • Syrian Information Minister Hamza Mostafa condemned the incident as a terrorist act, while Church officials and witnesses provided further details on the attack's progression.

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