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BBC News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Syria's Christians fear for future after devastating church attack
Warning: This article contains distressing details "Your brother is a hero." This is what Emad was told after finding out his brother had been killed in a suicide explosion at a church in the Syrian capital of Damascus. His brother, Milad, and two others had tried to push the suicide attacker out of the church building. He was killed instantly – alongside 24 other members of the congregation. Another 60 people were injured in the attack at Greek Orthodox Church of the Prophet Elias, in the eastern Damascus suburb of Dweila on 22 was the first such attack in Damascus since Islamist-led rebel forces overthrew Bashar al- Assad in December, ending 13 years of devastating civil war. It was also the first targeting of the Christian community in Syria since a massacre in 1860, when a conflict broke out between Druze and Maronite Christians under Ottoman rule. The Syrian authorities blamed the attack on the Islamic State (IS) group. However, a lesser- known Sunni extremist group, Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah, has said it was behind the attack – though government officials say they do not operate independently of IS. Milad had been attending a Sunday evening service at the church, when a man opened fire on the congregation before detonating his explosive vest. Emad heard the explosion from his house and for hours was unable to reach his brother."I went to the hospital to see him. I couldn't recognise him. Half of his face was burnt," Emad told me, speaking from his small two bedroom-home which he shares with several other is a tall, thin man in his 40s with an angular face that bears the lines of a hard life. He, like his brother, had been working as a cleaner in a school in the poor neighbourhood, which is home to many lower to middle class and predominantly Christian Bashar al-Assad's rule, members of Syria's many religious and ethnic minority communities believed the state protected them. Now, many fear the new Islamist-led government, established by the rebels who overthrew him last December, will not do the interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and his government have pledged to protect all citizens, recent deadly sectarian violence in Alawite coastal areas and then in Druze communities around Damascus have made people doubt its ability to control the of Emad's family members echoed this sentiment, saying: "We are not safe here anymore." Angie Awabde, 23, was just two months away from graduating university when she got caught up in the church attack. She heard the gunshots before the blast. "It all happened in seconds," she told me, speaking from her hospital bed as she recovers from shrapnel wounds to her face, hand and leg, as well as a broken is frightened and feels there is no future for Christians in Syria. "I just want to leave this country. I lived through the crisis, the war, the mortars. I never expected that something would happen to me inside a church," she said. "I don't have a solution. They need to find a solution, this is not my job, if they can't protect us, we want to leave." Before the 13-year civil war, Christians made up about 10% of the 22 million population in Syria - but their numbers have shrunk significantly since then with hundreds of thousands fleeing abroad. Churches were among the buildings bombed by the Syrian government and allied Russian forces during the war – but not while worshippers were inside. Thousands of Christians were also forced from their homes due to the threat from hardline Islamist and jihadist groups, such as IS. Outside the hospital where Angie is being treated, coffins of some of the victims of the church attack were lined up, ready for burial. People from all walks of life, and representing different parts of Syrian society, attended the service at a nearby church, which took place under a heavy security presence. In a sermon at the service, the Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church in Syria, John Yazigi, insisted "the government bears responsibility in full". He said a phone call from President Ahmed al-Sharaa expressing his condolences was "not enough for us", drawing applause from the congregation. "We are grateful for the phone call. But the crime that took place is a little bigger than that."Sharaa last week promised that those involved in the "heinous" attack would face justice. A day after the bombing, two of the suspects were killed and six others arrested in a security operation on an IS cell in Damascus. But this has done little to allay fears here about the security situation, especially for religious minorities. Syria has also seen a crack down on social freedoms, including decrees on how women should dress at beaches, attacks on men wearing shorts in public and bars and restaurants closing for serving here fear that these are not just random cases but signs of a wider plan to change Syrian Meletius Shattahi, director-general of the charitable arm of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, feels the government is not doing refers to videos circulating online showing armed religious preachers advocating for Islam over loud speakers in Christian neighbourhoods, saying these are not "individual incidents". "These are taking place in public in front of everybody, and we know very well that our government is not taking any action against [those] who are breaching the laws and the rules."This alleged inaction, he says, is what led to the attack at the Church of the Prophet Elias.
The National
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Syrian security forces kill two ISIS-linked militants suspected in Damascus church attack
Syrian security forces have killed two members of an ISIS-linked terrorist cell suspected of involvement in the bombing of a church in Damascus on Sunday, the Interior Ministry said. They were killed in a security operation in the Western Ghouta suburbs of Damascus on Monday in which six other alleged militants were arrested, according to a statement from the ministry, which described the raid as the 'beginning of a thread' that will unravel how the suicide attack was carried out. The shooting and suicide bombing on Sunday left 25 people dead at Mar Elias Church, in the low-income district of Dweila outside the walls of Old Damascus. It was one of the deadliest attacks on civilians since the ousting of President Bashar Al Assad in December by forces led by Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS). The former rebel group, which is leading a transitional government, is opposed to ISIS and has fought it in the last 10 years. HTS was affiliated with Al Qaeda until 2014 The Interior Ministry said one of the alleged militants killed in the security operation had enabled the entry of the suicide bomber into the church, while the other 'was planning another terrorist action in a neighbourhood of the capital'. It did not identity of any of the suspects. Explosives were seized, including a booby-trapped motorcycle, it said. Last month, Syrian security troops conducted operations to expel I SIS from urban centres, killing three of the group's alleged members in Aleppo. Combating ISIS is crucial for Syria's new government to garner US support, especially after a breakthrough meeting last month between President Donald Trump and Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara, who is also the leader of HTS. Mr Trump said the US would lift sanctions against Syria to help usher in stability under the new authorities in Damascus. Christians, who make up 5 per cent of Syria's population, have been important politically for Mr Al Shara, to the point that they were the focus of an invitation for two Republican members of the US House of Representatives to visit Syria in April.
Asharq Al-Awsat
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Syrian Interior Ministry Arrests ISIS Cell Responsible for Church Attack
Hours after Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa vowed that those involved in a 'heinous' suicide attack on a Damascus church a day earlier would face justice, Syria's Interior Ministry said authorities had arrested several suspects in connection with the attack. The shooting and suicide bombing Sunday at the Mar Elias church in the Dweila district of the Syrian capital killed 25 people and injured 63 others, according to the Health Ministry. 'In coordination with the General Intelligence Service, the Ministry carried out security operations against ISIS-linked terrorist cells in the Damascus countryside, arresting a cell leader and five members, and killing two others affiliated with the terrorist attack on Mar Elias Church in Damascus,' the Syrian Interior Ministry said in a statement on Monday. 'During the raid, quantities of weapons and ammunition were seized, in addition to explosive vests and mines. A motorcycle bomb that had been prepared for detonation was also found,' it said. On Monday, the Syrian President expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the church bombing. He said 'this heinous crime that targeted innocent people in their worship places reminds us of the importance of solidarity and unity –government and people- in confronting threats to our security and the stability of our country.' Sharaa added, 'Today, we all stand united, rejecting injustice and crime in all its forms. We pledge to the victims that we will work day and night, mobilizing all our specialized security services, to apprehend all those who participated in and planned this heinous crime and bring them to justice to face their just punishment.' The attack is the first such bombing in Damascus since the fall of Bashar Assad's regime. It raised fear among the people. Commenting on the attack, a man in his 70s described the attack as 'a huge and horrible strike,' stressing the need for 'the authorities to tighten security measures on churches, all places of worship, and busy places.' On Monday, Asharq Al-Awsat spotted heavy deployment of local security agents in the capital's neighborhoods and major roads, amid heightened security measures. Adbdulrahman Alhaj, a researcher in Islamic studies, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Interior Ministry statement that linked the attack to an ISIS suicide attack is a suggestion that the ministry's spokesman Noureddine Al-Baba had mentioned in his Sunday press briefing. Alhaj said he supports the ministry's conclusions as ISIS had recently issued several threats signaling plans to confront the new regime in Damascus particularly, al-Sharaa.
The National
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
'I've never seen anything like this': Fear and anger for Syria's Christians after church bombing
At the wrecked Mar Elias Church in Dweila, still reeling from the terrorist attack attributed to ISIS that killed 25 people during a Sunday Mass, mourners gathered to pay tribute to the victims. They came from all around Damascus, from all ages and sects. The atmosphere was loaded with emotion, ranging from devastation to anger. Many wept, too overwhelmed to speak. Katia, 37, a resident of the poor Christian-majority neighbourhood of Dweila in the Damascus suburbs, told The National that despite the fear, she is determined to stay. "We're here to pray for the victims, to show that we strongly condemn what happened and that we're staying here, because at the end of the day, one cannot leave their land," Katia told The National at the ceremony. The attack was the first major terrorist assault since the fall of president Bashar Al Assad 's regime in December. No group has claimed responsibility, but Syrian authorities said it was carried out by an ISIS cell. Witnesses at the scene told The National that at least one assailant rushed towards the church, opened fire on worshippers gathered outside, and then blew himself up inside with an explosive belt. Flowers now cover the crater left by the massive explosion. The church has been cleaned, but religious icons are still stained with streaks of blood. The attack has left the Christian community in shock. Most shops in Dweila were closed on Monday, with checkpoints set up to meticulously monitor people's comings and goings. "This is not our Islam. Our Islam in Syria is moderate, we all live together," said Fadia, 47, a Christian resident of Damascus, who travelled from another neighbourhood with several members of her parish. Syria's Interior Ministry said on Monday that authorities had arrested several suspects involved in the church bombing. Earlier that day, officials said they had foiled an attempt by a terrorist group to carry out an attack on Mujtahid Hospital, where many of the wounded are being treated. New regime The bombing of Mar Elias Church comes as the new authorities, led by former militant leader, now President Ahmad Al Shara, try to win the trust of minorities in a country home to a mosaic of communities. Before the civil war in 2011, Christians numbered about two million. Today, estimates suggest that the Christian population has shrunk to fewer than 500,000. Mr Al Shara expressed his "deepest condolences and sincere sympathy for the families of victims" on Monday in a statement denouncing the "criminal bombing". "This heinous crime that targeted innocent people in their worship places reminds us of the importance of solidarity and unity – government and people – in confronting threats to our security and the stability of our country,' he said. Still, many Christians say they feel uneasy with the new government and do not feel represented by the Sunni Islamists leading Syria since toppling the Assad regime, despite promises of inclusion and protection of minorities. "I trusted them but we didn't see anything on the ground," Bishop Moises Moussa El Khoury, an auxiliary bishop of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, told The National. "We saw nothing in reality. Just talk, talk, talk. But we're not asking for much – just provide security for people. That's all we want. "In my whole life, nothing like this has ever happened. I've been in Damascus since 1970, and never, not even once, have I seen anything like this." Reports of a resurgence of ISIS cells, taking advantage of the chaos and proliferation of weapons after Mr Al Assad's removal, have left minorities fearing they may become targets of terrorist attacks. In Dweila, residents are calling for greater control over the myriad factions loosely aligned with the Ministry of Defence. Some of these armed groups, which largely remain outside government control despite promises of army unification, are known to hold particularly extremist views. "They're all walking around with weapons but we don't know who is who," Katia said. The day after the bombing, armed men wearing what appeared to be unofficial uniforms were seen patrolling alongside General Security forces. Young men from the neighbourhood, some with cross tattoos and introduced as local volunteers working with General Security, were also present. Other Dweila residents called for increased security. "And the checkpoints, why were they even there if they weren't doing anything? Why didn't they check anything?" asked a worker at a shop, who called himself Abu Tanios. His cousin, a 22-year-old woman, is in hospital. She lost all the fingers on one of her hands. Sectarian tension The bombing poses yet a new challenge for the authorities, who are already struggling to keep a lid on simmering sectarian tensions in a fractured society still marked by 14 years of civil war. In March, unregulated factions and armed people killed hundreds of Alawite civilians, a minority sect to which the Assad family belongs, in a spree of revenge killings, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. The violence began in the coastal region, the heartland of the Alawite community, after a failed pro-Al Assad insurgency that was repressed by government security forces. Mr Al Shara vowed to hold those responsible to account, forming an investigative committee that is yet to release its findings. In May, deadly violence spread to Druze areas, where clashes erupted between members of this community and Sunni gunmen. 'It's our turn. And next, it's going to be another Christian area. We're afraid for them, they are under threat,' said Abu Tanios. "If I had money, I wouldn't stay a single second. No one will give us rights or accountability." But many in the neighbourhood chose to remain united. Mohamed, a resident of Dweila, a mixed area that is not exclusively Christian, considers the attack to be an attempt to sow division in a place where different sects have long coexisted peacefully. 'In Dweila, we've always lived together like this,' Mohamed said. 'In my opinion, what happened has nothing to do with religion. No religion or sect condones killing people. The real problem is that some are trying to start a civil war. They want people to turn against each other.' Asked if he would attend the funeral on Tuesday, he did not hesitate. 'Of course,' he said. 'All my friends here are Christian.'
Khaleej Times
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Syria's Christians ask 'why us?' after suicide bombing at Damascus church
Syrian Christians were struggling on Monday to understand why their community was targeted in a suicide attack and whether they can rely on the Islamist-led government's assurances of protection. Syria's health ministry said the toll from Sunday's attack on the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood had risen to 25 dead and more than 60 wounded. The interior ministry said the suicide bomber was a member of Islamic State who entered the church, opened fire and detonated an explosive vest. There was no claim of responsibility by the Islamic State group. The interior ministry spokesperson said on Monday that security forced raided Islamic State hideouts in Damascus and the countryside of the capital, Syrian state news agency Sana reported. Those included the hideout of the group that attacked the church a day earlier, the spokesperson said. On Monday, funeral announcements were posted on the door of the church. Members of the security forces stood outside it and other churches. "I wonder why they target us. We had no interest in any of the events that happened in our country. We have no interests besides Syria living in peace," said Bassim Khoury, a Christian resident of Damascus. "We did not carry weapons, we did not stand against anyone. We did not ask for government positions. None of us wants to become president, no one wants to run the government... Why would this happen to this peaceful people?" The attack fed fears among Syria's minorities that their communities are more exposed to attacks and harassment since Islamist-led rebels toppled former leader Bashar al-Assad in December. In March, hundreds of Alawites - the minority from which Assad hails - were killed in Syria's coastal provinces and dozens were kidnapped and killed in Damascus. In May, an armed raid on a Damascus nightclub and the killing of a woman at another venue led some bars to close. Christian residents of Damascus told Reuters that Muslim sheikhs had come to their neighbourhoods in the last six months to urge them to convert to Islam and to stop consuming alcohol. SECURITY CONCERNS The violence has prompted questions about whether Syria's new rulers have full control over armed elements despite promises by Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa - formerly a member of Al Qaeda - to rule inclusively for all of the diverse religious and ethnic groups. "We're in a country that must protect everyone," said Jean Bahri, another Christian resident of Damascus. Nibras Youssef, from Dweila, said people has already been on edge over the security situation, in which armed men and boys who said they were official security force members produced no relevant identification papers. "You see a 13-year-old holding a weapon and you cannot say anything to them," said Youssef. Sharaa expressed his condolences, calling Sonday's attack a "criminal bombing that hurt the whole Syrian people". Several Syrian ministers, as well as church leaders and other foreign officials, condemned the attacks. Candlelit vigils and church services were held elsewhere in Syria in solidarity with the parishioners at Mar Elias.
