There was a deadly suicide bombing in the Saint Elias Greek Orthodox Church of Damascus on Sunday night. The blast killed 22 people and hurt over 60 others. The bomber was linked to the Islamic State (IS). It was the biggest suicide bomb assault in Syria following the downfall of Bashar al-Assad’s government and the takeover by an Islamist-led administration.
The attacker entered the church during a late-night prayer session, firing into the crowd before detonating an explosive vest inside the building, Syrian officials reported. A second attacker was witnessed by witnesses firing and not exploding a vest. Extensive damage within the church, including pews that were shattered and bodies found on the floor.
The surprise attack represents a re-emergence of ISIS activity in Syria taking advantage of the security void established in the midst of continued political instability and conflict. According to Syrian authorities, the extremist group has been resupplying itself with abandoned weapons dumped by receding government forces and continues to disseminate propaganda messages designed to recruit disillusioned fighters.
The new administration, led by former Islamist rebel leaders, has intensified attacks on the IS headquarters, but this attack is a sign of the continuous threat of ISIS to Syria’s tenuous peace. The local people condemned and decried the act with outrage, but the United Nations and world observers denounced the act as brutal force application aimed at destabilizing Syria.
With security forces probing into the events surrounding the attack, Syrians are confronted with the harsh reality that even with recent political developments, extremist violence continues to be a powerful and lethal force within the war-torn country.
