Greece Condemns ‘Heinous’ Damascus Church Bombing, Vows EU Action

07:43 23/6/2025 - Πηγή: iEfimerida

Greece has strongly condemned a deadly suicide bombing at a Greek Orthodox church in Damascus that killed at least 20 people, calling the act a “heinous terrorist suicide bombing” and vowing to raise the issue with its European Union partners.

The Greek Foreign Ministry reacted swiftly after an Islamic State

attacker targeted the Prophet Elias Church during Sunday services, expressing condolences to the victims’ families and demanding robust protections for Syria's Christian communities.

“Places of worship should never be targets of terror,” the ministry said in a statement. “Everyone has the right to practice their faith in peace and security.”

Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis is expected to formally brief Greece’s EU partners at a council meeting. The government in Athens is calling on Syria’s new transitional authorities to swiftly investigate the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The bombing in the Dweila neighborhood of the Syrian capital is the deadliest since President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown last December.

At least 52 others were injured after an assailant opened fire on worshippers before detonating an explosive vest, according to Syria’s Interior Ministry. The blast left a scene of carnage, with many of the dead and wounded transported to a nearby hospital.

The attack has sent a wave of fear through Syria's Christian minority.

“We are all in shock,” one Orthodox resident of Damascus told a Greek media outlet. “In the current climate of uncertainty in Syria, we feared something like this could happen.”

The bombing presents a critical test for Syria's new government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who replaced Mr. Assad and has repeatedly pledged to protect all religious minorities.

The assault will intensify international scrutiny of the new leadership's capacity to prevent extremist violence and maintain stability in the war-torn nation.

The United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations also condemned the attack, reiterating calls to safeguard religious sites and expressing condolences to the victims' families.

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