Syria Vows Justice After Deadly Church Attack

Interim President Pledges to Pursue Perpetrators of Damascus Bombing

In the aftermath of a devastating suicide bombing at a Damascus church, interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. The attack, which targeted a place of worship, has heightened concerns about security and stability within the country.

Swift Response Promised

Sunday’s assault on the church in the Dwelaa district resulted in 25 fatalities, with 63 individuals wounded, as per the health ministry’s updated figures. Authorities attribute the attack to the Islamic State group. Al-Sharaa declared that those involved will face accountability.

Syrian authorities have vowed to bring to justice those responsible for a suicide bombing on a church in Damascus that killed at least 25 people, in an attack the government blamed on Islamic State militants.https://t.co/x5Y24aK0iG

— The Associated Press (@AP) June 24, 2024

“We promise … that we will work night and day, mobilising all our specialised security agencies, to capture all those who participated in and planned this heinous crime and to bring them to justice,”

—Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syrian Interim President

In 2023, sectarian violence in the region led to a 15% increase in internally displaced persons (UNHCR).

Attack’s Significance

The attack, the first such incident in the Syrian capital since Islamist-led forces took control, has drawn international condemnation. This is also the first time a church has been targeted in Syria since the civil war began in 2011. The government faces ongoing challenges regarding security.

The international community has repeatedly urged the government to safeguard minorities and ensure their involvement in Syria’s transition, a call that resonates even more strongly after this attack. Further developments are expected as investigations proceed and the government addresses the incident’s ramifications.