Syrian authorities have arrested several suspects linked to a deadly church bombing in Damascus that killed 25 worshippers during Sunday prayers, in what officials say was a targeted suicide attack orchestrated by cells affiliated with the Islamic State.

Attack at Mar Elias Church: Worshippers Gunned Down, Then Bombed

The assault took place at Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Dweil’a, a district on the outskirts of Damascus, where a suicide bomber opened fire on worshippers before detonating himself inside the sanctuary. According to Syrian officials, the attacker aimed to maximize civilian casualties during mass, killing 25 people and injuring 63 more in one of the deadliest attacks in the capital in years.

Images released by the Syrian state news agency SANA show extensive structural damage to the church’s interior, as well as bloodstained floors and scattered debris. Emergency services worked through the night to treat victims and stabilize the scene.

Interior Minister Confirms Arrests, Blames Islamic State

Interior Minister Anas Khattab confirmed the arrests of “a number of criminals involved in the attack,” stating that raids had been carried out on suspected Islamic State hideouts around Damascus. Security forces reportedly discovered explosive devices and a booby-trapped motorcycle during the raids.

“These are cells affiliated with Daesh,” Khattab said, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS. His remarks followed preliminary reports by the Interior Ministry’s spokesperson, Noureddine Al-Baba, who said the targeting of Christian worshippers bore the hallmarks of the Islamic State's tactics.

Assad’s Successor Vows Justice

President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took power after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad, vowed that all perpetrators and planners of the “heinous crime” would be brought to justice. “We will work night and day to chase down everyone responsible,” Sharaa declared in a televised statement, calling for national unity in the face of continued threats to Syria’s security.

“The security of places of worship is a red line,” said Interior Ministry spokesman Al-Baba, accusing ISIS and remnants of the Assad-era regime of attempting to destabilize the country and stoke sectarian violence.

Attack Amid Broader Regional Turmoil

The Damascus bombing occurred less than 24 hours after U.S. airstrikes hit three major nuclear facilities in Iran, and days after Israeli strikes on Tehran. The timing has raised speculation that extremist groups are attempting to exploit the regional chaos. While no group has officially claimed responsibility, security analysts point to ISIS’s resurgence in Syria’s fragmented postwar landscape as a key threat.

As people gathered outside the damaged church on Monday, grief mixed with fear. “They targeted us because we are Christians,” one resident told local media. “But they won’t break our faith.”