At least 29 people were killed in the bloody suicide attack in Dahala’s Dayla district, while more than 70 were injured. Operating since February, it is regarded as its offshoot and threatens new attacks on Christians in Syria and Lebanon.
The organization has also targeted Muslim Syrians belonging to the doctrines of the Shiites, Alawites and Druze, that is, to those who do not belong to the Sunni majority, which is also under the name of the organization (al-Sunna). Syrian security services have announced that another accomplice was involved in the attack. The interior ministry also announced at least six arrests, as well as seizures of explosive mechanisms following an attack on Islamic State hideouts. During the special operation, a man who was considered to be a suicide bomber was killed.
How he describes the attack on Damascus a congenital victim
A relative of a victim, who wanted to keep her anonymity, describes the attack in step, as recorded by the eyewitnesses: “In the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Elias, located in Daeila, ended operation, at the same time with the funeral of a faithful. The church was full: there were about 300 people. Around 6 pm, after reading the Gospel, an armed man began shooting from outside to the windows of the church. Panicked, all the faithful ran to the depths of the church, near the sanctuary. In the meantime, the shooter was targeting the faithful, especially the children. “
“Suddenly, an armed man opened the door of the church. Several men inside approached him to stop him, “he continues. “The man was holding a grenade. One of our faithful, named Gerios (George), managed to grab the grenade and throw it away, preventing its explosion in the church. His brother, Botros (Peter), tried with the help of others to stop him, falling on him with their bodies. The terrorist, seeing that he could no longer shoot, was blown up. Without the courage of the two brothers and many other men, the tragedy would be even greater. They showed enormous heroism, they were sacrificed to protect others. “
“Among them was my uncle. He was one of the brave men who put their lives in the hands of God to save others, “he adds. “Like Christ to the Cross, they offered their flesh out of love for the neighbor. Thanks to their bravery, hundreds of lives were saved. Without their intervention, today we would have hundreds of witnesses. My uncle was seriously injured. He lost his legs, his eyes, and his belly was open. He fought five hours in the operating room. His last words were: “Lord, mercy. Lord, have mercy.”
The possible cause of terrorist attack
What could have been the cause and timing of the terrorist attack on Christians? Melchite Archbishop in Aleppo, Syrian, Yuhana-Kleman Zanbar, speaks to the Step for at least three motives: “The explosion in the Orthodox Church in Damascus carries multiple messages: 1) attempts to discredit the new regime of Ahmeda. 2) confirms that a terrorist version of Islam is present. 3) It is opposed to Russia, which has been presented as a protective power of the Greek Orthodox of the Patriarchate of Antioch since the 19th century “(Note: Although not all Orthodox would agree with this self -presentation).
The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs speaks of an effort to destabilize and undermine national coexistence, while the Syrian elders’ Muslim Council stresses that the practice contradicts the noble teachings of Islam and the ecumenical moral values that require respects. Reflection, however, is the fact that the detention facilities of the Islamic State fighters had recently been closed.
US withdrawal and shocking between Turkey and Israel
The more general “background” is the US withdrawal from the region and the transaction between Turkey and Israel, with the latter also worried about the rise of extremism. After all, Israel’s presence in Syria is based on its influence on the Druzo, monotheistic doctrine that has also been targeted by the organization of the attack.
Although the Syrian authorities, like Turkey, are bidding in operations against the Islamic State, minorities are anxious. As the relative of the victim states, “we are the indigenous peoples of this earth. We have always lived peacefully, following the principles of our faith. But after the attack on the Church of Damascus we no longer feel safe even at home. We no longer feel safe in our country. The blood of Christian martyrs of Syria is valuable. This blood that covered the walls and images of the church does not call for revenge. Shouts for dignity. He shouts for the calm power of faith. “
