Suicide bomber kills 20 in Damascus

Several people were killed and dozens injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a Greek Orthodox church in Syria’s capital, Damascus, on Sunday. This is according to local health authorities and security sources.

Syria’s Interior Ministry said the suicide attacker was a member of the Islamic State. He entered the Mar Elias church, opened fire, and detonated his explosive vest. A security source said that two men were involved in the attack, including the one who blew himself up.

The priest said he heard gunfire outside the church before two individuals entered with explosive belts and detonated them during Sunday Mass. It was the first suicide bombing in Damascus since former President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by an Islamist insurgency in December.

The Islamic State has been behind several attempted attacks on churches in Syria since Assad’s fall, but this was the first one to succeed, according to another security source.

Syrian President Ahmed Al Shara, who led the offensive against Assad before taking office in January for a transitional phase, has repeatedly stated that he will protect minorities.

In a statement, the Greek Foreign Ministry condemned what it called a heinous attack. The latest assault highlights the Islamic State’s continued ability to exploit security gaps despite the collapse of its territorial control and years of counterterrorism efforts.