Damascus Church Bombing by IS Causes Multiple Casualties

Damascus (Syria), Jun 25 (AP) — The Islamic State group has been identified as the force behind a lethal bombing at a church near Damascus. According to Syria's Interior Ministry spokesperson, the militant group had further plans to attack a Shiite shrine. The blast at the Mar Elias church on Sunday claimed the lives of at least 25 individuals. This incident marks the first of its kind in several years within Syria and occurs during Damascus's efforts to gain the trust of the country's minority communities.

Noureddine Al-Baba informed journalists that security forces intercepted a second attacker on Monday who was en route to target a Shiite shrine in the Sayyida Zeinab suburb of Damascus, an area rich with sites significant to the Islamic sect. Furthermore, Al-Baba highlighted that security personnel successfully disrupted a third planned attack, wherein another would-be attacker attempted to target a densely populated area in the capital. Detailed information regarding the thwarted attack was not provided.

“We raided IS hideouts, seizing weapons and explosive caches,” Al-Baba remarked, adding that the authorities managed to locate the leader of this sleeper cell after interrogating the apprehended second assailant. The identity of the church bomber, noted not to be Syrian, was left undisclosed. The cell leader, named Mohammad Abdelillah al-Jumaili, was described as an “IS leader” tasked with recruiting extremists from the extensive Al-Hol camp located in northeastern Syria for further attacks.

Al-Hol camp houses tens of thousands of IS militants and their families from across the globe under the watch of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. The SDF condemned the recent attack on the church.

Amidst these developments, memorial services for the victims were held at the Church of the Holy Cross in Damascus. The mournful clamor of church bells and traditional ululation filled the air as white coffins were carried through the grieving crowds. The victims were hailed as martyrs by the clergy, to the uplifting cheers of their supporters.

Dima Beshara, 40, grieving the loss of her cousin Emil, 38, along with seven other relatives, expressed her belief in Syria's historical religious harmony. She was among those from diverse sects celebrating the ouster of former leader Bashar Assad back in December. “What did they do wrong? They went to the house of God to pray?” questioned Beshara at the cemetery. She voiced her growing anxieties about the safety of attending church regularly for prayers, weddings, and funerals.

“We love everyone. We don't have a problem with anyone. But we hope that they love us in return,” she further conveyed. (AP) PY PY

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