Syria president vows those involved in church attack will face justice - Region
Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa vowed Monday that those involved in a "heinous" suicide attack on a Damascus church would face justice, as he called for unity in the diverse, multi-faith country.
The shooting and suicide bombing Sunday at the church in the working-class Dwelaa district of the Syrian capital killed 25 people and wounded 63, the health ministry said.
The authorities who took power after ousting longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December said the attacker was affiliated with the Islamic State group, which has not yet claimed the attack.
"We promise... that we will work night and day, mobilising all our specialised security agencies, to capture all those who participated in and planned this heinous crime and bring them to justice," interim President Sharaa said in a statement.
The attack follows incidents of sectarian violence in recent months, with security one of the greatest challenges for the new authorities.
The attack "reminds us of the importance of solidarity, and unity of the government and the people in facing all that threatens our nation's security and stability", Sharaa said.
Interior Minister Anas Khattab and intelligence services chief Hussein al-Salameh held an emergency meeting to discuss the investigations, the ministry said in a statement.
The attack was the first suicide bombing in a church in Syria since the country's civil war erupted in 2011, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor.
It was also the first attack of its kind in the Syrian capital since Assad's ouster.
A prayer service at the church is scheduled for 6:00 pm (1500 GMT).
Foreign condemnation
Since the new authorities took power, the international community has repeatedly urged them to protect minorities and ensure their participation in Syria's transition, particularly after the recent violence.
Interior ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said Sunday that "the security of places of worship is a red line, and all efforts will be made to ensure people's freedom to perform their religious rites".
IS "aims to sow sectarian division and incite all components of Syrian society to take up arms, seeking to show that the Syrian state is unable to protect its communities and citizens", he told a press conference.
The top cleric of Syria's Sunni Muslim majority, Grand Mufti Osama al-Rifai, condemned acts of violence and terrorism in a statement Monday.
"We express our complete rejection of targeting places of worship and terrorising believers," he said.
Foreign condemnation of the attack continued to roll in on Monday.
Egypt has condemned the terrorist attack and in a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended Egypt's sincere condolences to the Syrian people and the victims' families, wishing a swift recovery to the injured.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would not allow extremists to drag Syria back into chaos and instability, vowing that Turkey would "continue to support the Syrian government's fight against terrorism".
Turkey, which is close to the new authorities, has repeatedly offered its operational and military support to fight IS and other militant threats.
French President Emmanuel Macron also denounced the "horrible" attack, while the EU said it "stands in solidarity" with Syria in combating ethnic and religious violence.
"It is a grave reminder of the need to intensify efforts against the terrorist threat and to ensure the enduring defeat of Daesh and other terrorist organisations," spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said, using another name for IS.
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed anger after the attack on the Greek Orthodox Church, calling on the new authorities "to take concrete measures to protect all ethnic and religious minorities".
Syria's Christian community has shrunk from around one million before the war to fewer than 300,000 due to waves of displacement and emigration.
IS seized large swathes of Syrian and Iraqi territory in the early years of the civil war, declaring a cross-border "caliphate" in 2014.
They were territorially defeated in Syria 2019 but have maintained a presence, particularly in the country's vast desert.
*This story was edited by Ahram Online
Follow us on:
Facebook
Instagram
Whatsapp
Short link:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
2 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Oil prices fall more than 6% after Iran attacks US military base - Energy
Oil prices sank more than six percent Monday after Iran attacked a US military base in neighboring Qatar in retaliation for US weekend strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Near 1815 GMT, futures for West Texas Intermediate fell 6.5 percent to $69.96 a barrel, while Brent oil futures dropped 6.4 percent to $72.07 a barrel, its lowest level in 10 days. A US defense official said there were no known American casualties from the incident, which analysts said did not appear to be near key oil infrastructure. John Kilduff of Again Capital described the Iranian action as "somewhat measured" and apart from population centers. "This is a face-saving measure by the Iranians and hopefully the diplomatic off-ramp will be taken," Kilduff said. The Iran-Israel clash has focused worry on the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway for seaborne oil that has long been used by Iran as a geopolitical bargaining chip. Tehran has for decades threatened to close the strait every time tensions soared, but never acted on its warning. But Kilduff said, "it's pretty clear that this is not going to turn into -- right away at least -- any kind of impact on oil flows in the region, particularly the Strait of Hormuz." Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Daily News Egypt
4 hours ago
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt condemns deadly Damascus church terrorist bombing that Killed 22
Egypt on Monday condemned a terrorist bombing that targeted St. Elias Church in Damascus, an attack which Syrian authorities said killed 22 people and injured 59 others. In a statement, the Egyptian foreign ministry extended its sincere condolences to the Syrian people and the victims' families, and wished the injured a speedy recovery. The government reaffirmed its unwavering position against all forms of violence, extremism, and terrorism. The statement also reiterated the importance of uniting regional and international efforts to eliminate terrorism, eradicate its sources, and confront criminal acts that seek to undermine security and stability. Syrian officials have announced that their preliminary investigation indicates the involvement of the ISIS organisation. According to Syrian Ministry of Interior Spokesperson Nour al-Din al-Baba, the perpetrator was a suicide bomber. Speaking at a press conference, he stated that the attacker entered the church, opened fire, and then detonated his explosives. Al-Baba added that 'the attack did not target a specific sect, but all Syrians,' noting that the operation was intended to incite sectarian strife and destabilise the country. He emphasised that the security of places of worship is a 'red line' and that all those involved in this act will be held accountable. The Syrian Ministry of Health confirmed the casualty figures from the attack, which occurred in the capital's Duwaila'a district. In a statement broadcast by Syria TV, the ministry noted that the injured had been transported to hospitals to receive necessary medical care and that their conditions were being continuously and directly monitored. Following the explosion, Internal Security Forces established a tight security cordon around the church. The measures included closing all roads leading to the site, as well as shuttering other churches in the nearby neighbourhoods of Bab Touma, Bab Sharqi, al-Qassaa, and Duwaila'a as a precaution against potential future attacks.
Al-Ahram Weekly
6 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Syria president vows those involved in church attack will face justice - Region
Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa vowed Monday that those involved in a "heinous" suicide attack on a Damascus church would face justice, as he called for unity in the diverse, multi-faith country. The shooting and suicide bombing Sunday at the church in the working-class Dwelaa district of the Syrian capital killed 25 people and wounded 63, the health ministry said. The authorities who took power after ousting longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December said the attacker was affiliated with the Islamic State group, which has not yet claimed the attack. "We promise... that we will work night and day, mobilising all our specialised security agencies, to capture all those who participated in and planned this heinous crime and bring them to justice," interim President Sharaa said in a statement. The attack follows incidents of sectarian violence in recent months, with security one of the greatest challenges for the new authorities. The attack "reminds us of the importance of solidarity, and unity of the government and the people in facing all that threatens our nation's security and stability", Sharaa said. Interior Minister Anas Khattab and intelligence services chief Hussein al-Salameh held an emergency meeting to discuss the investigations, the ministry said in a statement. The attack was the first suicide bombing in a church in Syria since the country's civil war erupted in 2011, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor. It was also the first attack of its kind in the Syrian capital since Assad's ouster. A prayer service at the church is scheduled for 6:00 pm (1500 GMT). Foreign condemnation Since the new authorities took power, the international community has repeatedly urged them to protect minorities and ensure their participation in Syria's transition, particularly after the recent violence. Interior ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said Sunday that "the security of places of worship is a red line, and all efforts will be made to ensure people's freedom to perform their religious rites". IS "aims to sow sectarian division and incite all components of Syrian society to take up arms, seeking to show that the Syrian state is unable to protect its communities and citizens", he told a press conference. The top cleric of Syria's Sunni Muslim majority, Grand Mufti Osama al-Rifai, condemned acts of violence and terrorism in a statement Monday. "We express our complete rejection of targeting places of worship and terrorising believers," he said. Foreign condemnation of the attack continued to roll in on Monday. Egypt has condemned the terrorist attack and in a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended Egypt's sincere condolences to the Syrian people and the victims' families, wishing a swift recovery to the injured. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would not allow extremists to drag Syria back into chaos and instability, vowing that Turkey would "continue to support the Syrian government's fight against terrorism". Turkey, which is close to the new authorities, has repeatedly offered its operational and military support to fight IS and other militant threats. French President Emmanuel Macron also denounced the "horrible" attack, while the EU said it "stands in solidarity" with Syria in combating ethnic and religious violence. "It is a grave reminder of the need to intensify efforts against the terrorist threat and to ensure the enduring defeat of Daesh and other terrorist organisations," spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said, using another name for IS. Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed anger after the attack on the Greek Orthodox Church, calling on the new authorities "to take concrete measures to protect all ethnic and religious minorities". Syria's Christian community has shrunk from around one million before the war to fewer than 300,000 due to waves of displacement and emigration. IS seized large swathes of Syrian and Iraqi territory in the early years of the civil war, declaring a cross-border "caliphate" in 2014. They were territorially defeated in Syria 2019 but have maintained a presence, particularly in the country's vast desert. *This story was edited by Ahram Online Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
