UN Condemns ‘Heinous' Terrorist Attack At Damascus Church That Killed Dozens
23 June 2025
More than 60 churchgoers were also wounded in the attack, which is reported to be the first in the Syrian capital since rebel groups ousted former president Bashar al-Assad in December, ending more than a decade of civil war.
A gunman opened fire inside the Greek Orthodox St. Elias Church in the Dweila neighbourhood before detonating an explosive vest, according to media reports.
Photos and video from inside the church showed a heavily damaged altar and pews covered in broken glass.
UN chief demands accountability
UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the attack, expressing his deepest condolences to the families of those killed and wishing a swift recovery to the injured.
'All perpetrators of terrorism must be held accountable,' Stéphane Dujarric, his spokesperson, said on Monday.
Mr. Guterres noted that the Syrian interim authorities had attributed the attack to the terrorist group, ISIL – also known as Da'esh – based on preliminary investigations, and he called for a thorough and impartial probe.
'The Secretary-General reaffirms the commitment of the United Nations to supporting the Syrian people in their pursuit of peace, dignity, and justice,' Mr. Dujarric added.
Call for justice
UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen echoed the condemnation, denouncing the bombing 'in the strongest possible terms.'
He urged authorities to investigate the attack and ensure accountability.
He also called for unity in rejecting terrorism, extremism, incitement, and the targeting of any community in Syria, which has been a patchwork of different faiths throughout its history.
No place for extremism
Adam Abdelmoula, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, described the incident as a 'deliberate attack on a place of worship' and stressed that it had targeted civilians, including women and children, gathered in prayer.
'There is no room for violence and extremism,' he said, urging solidarity as Syria moves toward recovery and reconciliation.
Mr. Abdelmoula reiterated the UN's continued support for the Syrian people and called for all possible steps to be taken to protect civilians, prevent future attacks, and bring those responsible to justice.
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We urge the media to reflect on the lessons of history and avoid repeating the mistakes that paved the way for past wars. While Iran's political system differs greatly from those of Western democracies, this does not justify externally imposed regime change, as is now being suggested. The disastrous 2003 invasion of Iraq—also based on claims of weapons of mass destruction—serves as a sobering precedent, resulting in mass civilian deaths, long-term instability, and no nuclear weapons ever being found. We are also deeply concerned that this escalation is drawing attention away from the ongoing genocide in Gaza, where Palestinians continue to be killed daily while attempting to access food aid. All conflicts must be addressed with equal urgency, accountability, and respect for international law. We support the New Zealand Government's call for a political resolution to the conflict through diplomatic means, and we share its position that Iran must not become the world's tenth nuclear-armed state. At the same time, we urge a renewed commitment to New Zealand's nuclear-free principles and to the prevention of nuclear proliferation through diplomacy, multilateral agreements, and dialogue—not military force. Finally, we call on the media and the public to reject the dangerous dehumanisation of Iranians, Palestinians, or Israelis. People are not their governments. Fear-driven narratives fuel war; we must instead rely on facts, international law, and historical lessons to guide us forward.
