A heartbreaking suicide attack has taken place in the Syrian capital, Damascus. At least 22 people died in this attack while 63 people were seriously injured. The incident happened when an attacker blew himself up during prayers in the crowded Mar Elias Church. This explosion in Dwayla, located on the outskirts of Damascus, spread terror throughout the area. According to local media reports, children are also among the casualties.
An attack in a supposedly safe area
The attack took place in an area that is considered to be the safest area of the Syrian regime. The Syrian government media has called this incident a cowardly terrorist attack. However, no organization has yet claimed responsibility for this suicide attack, raising questions about the motives behind it.
The Information Minister condemned the attack
Syrian Information Minister Hamza Mustafa strongly condemned the attack and called it a terrorist attack. “This cowardly attack is against the civic values that bring us together,” he said in a post on X. We are committed to apply all our efforts to combat criminal organizations and protect society from all attacks that threaten the safety of society.
New questions on the protection of minorities
A security source said on condition of anonymity that two people were involved in the attack, one of whom blew himself up. The attack comes at a time when Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara, who took office in January and has led an offensive against Assad, has repeatedly said he would protect minorities during his tenure.
President Ahmed al-Shara is struggling to consolidate his hold over the country and there are persistent concerns about the presence of sleeper cells of extremist groups in the war-torn country. The attack was the first of its kind in Syria in many years and comes at a time when Damascus is trying to win support from minorities under its de facto Islamic regime. This attack has not only raised questions about the security system but has also sparked a new debate about the security of religious minorities in Syria.