President Joseph Aoun on Sunday expressed his strong condemnation of the terrorist bombing that struck the St. Elias Greek Orthodox Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Damascus, offering his condolences to the Greek Orthodox Church and the families of the victims.
In a statement following the attack, Aoun extended his wishes for a swift recovery to those injured, denouncing the bombing as a “criminal incident” and calling on Syrian authorities to take immediate and effective measures to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
The President also underscored the need to protect places of worship, their congregants, and all Syrian citizens, regardless of sect or background. He emphasized that the unity of the Syrian people is the primary safeguard against internal strife, warning of the dangers posed by such attacks.
In parallel, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri extended his condolences to Greek Orthodox Patriarch John X Yazigi, the Orthodox communities in Syria and Lebanon, and the families of the victims of what he described as a “cowardly terrorist act” that targeted worshippers inside the church. Wishing a swift recovery to the wounded, Berri reaffirmed that terrorism knows no sect or religion, stressing that its perpetrators and sponsors, whether individuals, groups, or states, are “enemies of God and His divine messages, which were revealed to uphold the dignity of all human beings, regardless of faith or affiliation.”
Earlier on Sunday, an explosion shook the St. Elias Church in Dweila-Damascus, in what Syrian authorities have described as a terrorist attack. According to the Syrian Ministry of Interior, the attacker entered the church, opened fire on worshippers, and then detonated himself using an explosive vest. The assault took place while several people were gathered inside the church.
The Syrian Ministry of Health later confirmed to state-run SANA news agency that the blast left at least 20 people dead and 53 others wounded.
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