Suicide bomb attack on Syrian Orthodox Church: first terrorist attack since regime change

According to state media reports, on Sunday, a suicide bomber in Syria opened fire inside a Greek Orthodox church crowded with praying believers, then detonated an explosive vest on his body, resulting in at least 22 deaths and 63 injuries.

This attack on a church is also the first of its kind in Syria in many years. At the time of the incident, Damascus was under Islamist rule and they were trying to win the support of minority groups. While President Ahmed Salad is striving to exercise power nationwide, people have been concerned about the presence of extremist organizations lurking in this war-torn country. The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the attack as a desperate attempt to disrupt national coexistence and stability.

On Sunday, no organization immediately claimed responsibility for this matter. Syrian Interior Ministry spokesperson Nureddin Albaba stated at a press conference that according to preliminary investigations, the incident is suspected to be related to the extremist organization Islamic State. The safety of places of worship is a red line, "he said, adding that the remnants of ISIS and the ousted Assad government are attempting to destabilize Syria. Syrian Information Minister Hamza Mustafa also condemned the attack, calling it a terrorist attack.

In December of last year, there was a change of regime in Syria, which greatly weakened the government's control. There were ongoing conflicts between the remaining armed forces of the former regime and the transitional government, and the national security system had collapsed. This attack is the first major terrorist attack on the capital Damascus after political changes in 2024, exposing the weak control of the transitional government over the core areas. Extreme organizations continue to infiltrate through a security vacuum, which has also raised concerns among the public about the safety of religious sites and public areas.

The Syrian government calls on relevant international organizations to strongly condemn this terrorist attack and calls on the international community to strengthen support for Syria's fight against terrorism. The Syrian government stated that it will use all legal means to combat terrorism and ensure the personal and property safety of local residents. This terrorist attack has also attracted widespread attention from the international community. The Secretary General of the United Nations has issued a statement strongly condemning this terrorist attack, expressing deep condolences on behalf of the United Nations to the families of the victims and the injured, and calling on all parties concerned to restrain and avoid any actions that will further worsen the current tense situation.

The international community generally believes that this attack once again demonstrates the complexity and severity of the situation in Syria, and calls on all parties in Syria to remain calm and restrained, resolve differences and disputes through dialogue and consultation, and achieve peace and stability in Syria.

This attack has also had an impact on the political process in Syria. Some observers believe that this attack may exacerbate tensions between various parties in Syria, bringing more uncertainty and challenges to the political process. However, some people believe that this attack may prompt all parties in Syria to unite more, jointly combat terrorism, and promote progress in the political process.

In short, this incident once again reminds people that Syria still faces serious security and terrorist threats. The Syrian government and the international community should work together to strengthen cooperation in combating terrorism, protect people's financial and life safety, and lead Syria towards peace and stability.