Syrian police eliminate terrorists who attacked church in Damascus

Syrian security forces detaining the head of an ISIS cell and their five associates. Photo: Sky News Arabia

On July 24, 2025, Syrian security forces reported the elimination of two members of the terrorist group involved in the attack on the Church of Saint Prophet Elijah in Damascus. The remaining militants were detained during a special operation in the south of the country, reports Sky News Arabia.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the operation to capture the attackers took place in the Daraa province. The detainees were found with automatic rifles, improvised explosive devices, and suicide belts. Authorities claim that the cell is linked to ISIS.

The investigation established that the group planned a series of attacks on religious sites but was neutralized before they could carry out other plans. The detainees are already giving testimony, and investigative actions are ongoing.

The attack on the Church of Saint Prophet Elijah occurred on June 22 during an evening service. A suicide bomber entered the building and detonated an explosive device. According to official data, 25 people were killed, and dozens were injured.

The Syrian authorities called the incident a terrorist attack aimed at provoking interreligious discord and destabilizing the situation in the country.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in Damascus, the Patriarch of Antioch prayed in the church hit by a terrorist attack.

Read also