The Islamic State is suspected to be behind a deadly suicide bombing that occurred at a Greek Orthodox church in Syria on Sunday.
At least 22 people were killed, and 63 others were injured in the attack that took place at the Mar Elias Church in Dweil’a – on the outskirts of Damascus. It reportedly began while people were praying. The perpetrator first opened fire on the worshipers, before detonating himself.
While no group immediately claimed responsibility for the mass-casualty attack, Syrian Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine Al-Baba suggested ISIS as a likely culprit following a preliminary investigation.
“The security of places of worship is a red line,” Al-Baba said further, castigating ISIS and what remains of the former government of Ba’athist dictator Bashar al-Assad as actors trying to destabilize Syria.
SUICIDE BOMBER STRIKES SYRIAN CHURCH NEAR DAMASCUS DURING MASS
The country’s foreign ministry echoed Al-Baba, describing the attack as “a desperate attempt to undermine national coexistence and to destabilize the country.”
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The attack comes amid a time of heightened political unrest in the notoriously volatile Middle East – less than 24 hours after the U.S. launched airstrikes on three of Iran’s top nuclear facilities. Israel launched a series of similar attacks, including attacks on the Iranian capital, Tehran, in the weeks prior.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
