Islamic State claims attack on Orthodox church in Damascus
Syrian authorities confirmed this Tuesday that the terrorist attack against a Greek Orthodox church on the outskirts of Damascus was carried out by members of the Islamic State (IS). According to Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine Al-Baba, the jihadist group also planned to attack a Shiite shrine in the capital, which was thwarted by security forces.
Details of the operation and consequences
Sunday’s attack on the Mar Elías church left at least 25 dead, marking the first attack of this magnitude against a Christian temple in Syria in years. Investigations revealed that the terrorists were acting under the orders of Mohammad Abdelillah al-Jumaili, leader of an IS sleeper cell specialized in recruiting extremists from the Al-Hol camp, in the northeast of the country.
During the raids, authorities seized weapons and explosives, while a second attacker was detained before carrying out an attack on the Shiite shrine of Sayyida Zeinab. “The perpetrator of the attack on the church was a foreigner,” Al-Baba declared, without providing further details about his nationality.
The Al-Hol camp, administered by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), houses thousands of former IS fighters and their families, being a focus of concern for regional stability. The FDS strongly condemned the attack, highlighting the risks of the reactivation of terrorist cells.
Social repercussions and reactions
The funerals of the victims were held at the Church of the Holy Cross in Damascus, where hundreds of people paid tribute to the deceased, considered martyrs by the community. Dima Beshara, a survivor who lost eight relatives, questioned the breakdown of historic religious coexistence in Syria: “Should I be afraid every time I want to pray?”
The attack occurs in a delicate political context, where the government seeks to consolidate the support of minorities after a decade of conflict. Analysts point out that these acts seek to exacerbate sectarian tensions and destabilize national reconciliation efforts.
Strategic impact: The operation reveals the residual capacity of IS to infiltrate urban areas and attack symbolic targets, despite its territorial defeat in 2019. Counterterrorism experts warn of the need to strengthen intelligence and regional cooperation to prevent new attacks.
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Sources: Syrian Ministry of the Interior, conflict observers and local testimonies.
