Fact Check: At least 25 killed in shocking church suicide bombing in Damascus.

Fact Check: "At least 25 killed in shocking church suicide bombing in Damascus"

What We Know

On June 22, 2025, a suicide bombing occurred at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Prophet Elias in Dweila, a suburb of Damascus, Syria. According to the Syrian Health Ministry, the attack resulted in at least 25 fatalities and 63 injuries (BBC, AP News). The assailant reportedly opened fire on congregants before detonating an explosive vest inside the church during a service (Reuters, Wikipedia). The Syrian Interior Ministry has indicated that the attacker was affiliated with the jihadist group Islamic State (IS), although no immediate claim of responsibility was made by the group itself (Washington Post, AP News).

Witness accounts describe a chaotic scene where the attacker entered the church, fired shots, and subsequently detonated the explosives as congregants attempted to subdue him (BBC, AP News). This incident marks the first such attack in Damascus since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, which had been in power for over a decade (Reuters, Wikipedia).

Analysis

The claim that "at least 25 killed in shocking church suicide bombing in Damascus" is supported by multiple reputable sources, including state media and international news agencies. The Syrian Health Ministry's report of 25 deaths has been corroborated by various outlets, including the BBC and AP News (BBC, AP News). However, there are discrepancies in the reported death toll; some sources, like the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported at least 19 deaths without specifying an exact number (AP News).

The reliability of the sources is generally high, as they include established news organizations and official statements from the Syrian government. However, it is essential to consider the potential for bias in reporting from state media, especially in a politically sensitive context like Syria, where information can be manipulated for propaganda purposes (Washington Post). The lack of an immediate claim of responsibility from IS adds a layer of uncertainty regarding the motivations and affiliations of the attacker.

While the Syrian government attributes the attack to IS, the absence of independent verification from the group itself raises questions about the accuracy of this claim. Nevertheless, the context of ongoing sectarian violence and previous attacks on religious minorities in Syria lends credence to the assertion that IS could be involved (Washington Post, Reuters).

Conclusion

The claim that "at least 25 killed in shocking church suicide bombing in Damascus" is Partially True. While the reported death toll of 25 is supported by multiple sources, there are inconsistencies in the exact numbers reported by different agencies. Additionally, the attribution of responsibility to the Islamic State, while plausible, lacks immediate confirmation from the group itself. Therefore, while the core of the claim is accurate, the nuances regarding the death toll and the perpetrator's identity warrant a more cautious interpretation.

Sources

1. Twenty killed in suicide bombing at Damascus church
2. Syria: Suicide bombing at Damascus church kills 25
3. Suicide bomber kills at least 22 in church near Syria's capital
4. Syria church bombing reignites fears among Christians
5. 2025 Mar Elias Church suicide bombing - Wikipedia
6. Mideast governments condemn suicide bombing of Syrian church as death toll rises
7. Syria's Christians ask 'Why us?' after suicide bombing at church