Overview

• A suicide bomber entered the St. Elias Church in the Dweila quarter of Damascus on June 22 during Sunday mass, killing 25 worshippers and injuring 63.
• Syria’s Interior Ministry has attributed the attack to the Islamic State and reported that the attacker opened fire before detonating explosives.
• Transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa denounced the bombing as “abhorrent” and vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
• Security forces have arrested seven suspects in operations near Damascus whom officials link to Islamic State cells.
• International and religious leaders have sharply condemned the attack and renewed calls for enhanced protection of Syria’s vulnerable minority communities.