Twenty killed in suicide bombing at Damascus church
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
‘Game isn’t over’: Iran vows retaliation as Pezeshkian says US ‘must receive response to their aggression’
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday that the United States must “receive a response” to attacks on nuclear sites in the Islamic republic. His comments came as a top advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that the “game isn’t over” and hinted that US military bases in the region could “will be considered legitimate targets” “America has attacked the heart of the Islamic world and must await irreparable consequences, because the Islamic Republic does not tolerate any insult or aggression against itself,” said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei.
This handout satellite picture provided by Maxar Technologies and taken on June 22, 2025, shows damage after US strikes on the Isfahan nuclear enrichment facility in central Iran.- AFP Photo
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian told French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday that the United States must “receive a response” for its strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, signalling Tehran’s intent to retaliate.
“The Americans must receive a response to their aggression,” Pezeshkian told the French leader, according to the official IRNA news agency.
His comments came as a top advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that the “game isn’t over” and hinted that US military bases in the region could “will be considered legitimate targets.”
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“Any country in the region or elsewhere that is used by American forces to strike Iran will be considered a legitimate target for our armed forces,” said Ali Akbar Velayati in a message carried by the official IRNA news agency.
“The United States “no longer” has a place in the Middle East after it conducted strikes against nuclear facilities in the Islamic republic,” he said.
“America has attacked the heart of the Islamic world and must await irreparable consequences, because the Islamic Republic does not tolerate any insult or aggression against itself,” he added.
Iran also said that it was ready to defend itself by “all necessary means” after unprecedented US strikes on its nuclear facilities.
“Iran is resolutely determined to defend its national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security and people by all necessary means,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei posted on X, condemning what he described as an “unconscionable act of aggression – perpetrated by a nuclear-armed state… against a non-nuclear weapon country”.
Meanwhile, The Trump administration on Sunday signaled a willingness to renew talks with Iran and avoid a prolonged war in the aftermath of a surprise attack on three of the country’s nuclear sites as U.S. officials assessed Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and the threat of retaliation against American interests.
The coordinated messaging by his vice president, Pentagon chief, top military adviser and secretary of state suggested a confidence that any fallout would be manageable and that Iran’s lack of military capabilities would ultimately force it back to the bargaining table.
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Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said at a news conference that America “does not seek war” with Iran while Vice President JD Vance said the strikes have given Tehran the possibility of returning to negotiate with Washington.
“This mission was not and has not been about regime change,” Hegseth said.
With inputs from agencies
At least 20 killed in suicide bombing at Damascus church
At least 20 people were killed and dozens injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Mar Elias Church in Damascus on June 22. The incident marks the first suicide bombing inside Damascus since Mr Assad was toppled by an Islamist-led rebel insurgency in December. The suicide bomber was a member of the terror group Islamic State, the interior ministry said. The blast left a bloodied floor and shattered pews and masonry in its wake, according to a report in the New York-based Daily Mail. The White Helmets, a group of volunteer rescuers, said they were investigating the incident.
A priest reacts as people and rescuers inspect the damage at the site of a reported suicide attack at the Saint Elias church in Damascus’ Dwelaa area on June 22. PHOTO: AFP
At least 20 killed in suicide bombing at Damascus church
DAMASCUS – At least 20 people were killed and dozens injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighbourhood of Syria’s capital Damascus on June 22, health authorities and security sources said.
The incident marks the first suicide bombing inside Damascus since Mr Bashar al-Assad was toppled by an Islamist-led rebel insurgency in December.
Syria’s interior ministry said the suicide bomber was a member of the terror group Islamic State.
He entered the church, opened fire and then detonated his explosive vest, the ministry added in a statement.
A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two men were involved in the attack, including the one who blew himself up.
Islamic State has been behind several attempted attacks on churches in Syria since Mr Assad’s fall, but this was the first to succeed, another security source told Reuters.
Syria’s state news agency cited the health ministry as saying that 52 people were also injured in the blast.
A livestream from the site by Syria’s civil defence, the White Helmets, showed scenes of destruction from inside the church, including a bloodied floor and shattered pews and masonry.
Blood stain on the floor as rescuers inspect the damage at the Saint Elias church in Damascus’ Dwelaa area on June 22. PHOTO: AFP
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led the offensive against Mr Assad before taking over in January for a transitional phase, has repeatedly said he will protect minorities.
“We unequivocally condemn the abhorrent terrorist suicide bombing at the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus, Syria,” the Greek foreign ministry said in a statement.
“We demand that the Syrian transitional authorities take immediate action to hold those involved accountable and implement measures to guarantee the safety of Christian communities and all religious groups, allowing them to live without fear.”
Islamic State had previously targeted religious minorities, including a major attack on Shiite pilgrims in Sayeda Zainab in 2016 – one of the most notorious bombings during Assad’s rule.
The latest assault underscores the group’s continued ability to exploit security gaps despite the collapse of its territorial control and years of counterterrorism efforts. REUTERS
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Islamic State suicide bombing in Damascus church kills 20 and injures 52
The attack on Sunday night was the first major IS operation and the first suicide bombing in Syria since former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December. A man affiliated with IS entered the Greek Orthodox Saint Elias church in the old Christian quarter of Damascus during prayers, opened fire and then detonated an explosive vest. Eyewitnesses inside the church reported a second gunman who did not blow himself up, but also shot at the 150 or so worshippers present. The attack came after months of low-level IS activity and propaganda, as the group attempted to exploit the security vacuum created after the fall of Assad to reconstitute itself. The Syrian government, led by former leaders of the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have been carrying out anti-IS raids throughout the country since taking power.
The attack on Sunday night was the first major IS operation and the first suicide bombing in Syria since former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December and replaced by an Islamist-led government.
A man affiliated with IS entered the Greek Orthodox Saint Elias church in the old Christian quarter of Damascus during prayers, opened fire and then detonated an explosive vest while inside the church, Syria’s interior ministry said. Eyewitnesses inside the church reported a second gunman who did not blow himself up, but also shot at the 150 or so worshippers present.
Videos of the church’s interior show splintered pews overturned by the force of the blast and the bloodied corpses of congregants splayed out across the church. Nearby residents reported hearing a large blast and then the sound of sirens as security forces attempted to establish a cordon around the area and civil defence personnel headed towards the church.
The attack came after months of low-level IS activity and propaganda, as the group attempted to exploit the security vacuum created after the fall of Assad to reconstitute itself. Syrian officials have said the group was able to seize weaponry and ammunition left by fleeing Assad regime soldiers to bolster its caches.
View image in fullscreen The blast on Sunday killed 20 people and damaged the interior of Saint Elias’s church, splintering pews and scattering debris. Photograph: Mohammed Al Rifai/EPA
The Syrian government, led by former leaders of the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have been carrying out anti-IS raids throughout the country since taking power. While still a rebel group, HTS had been fighting IS in areas under its control, viewing it as a source of instability and radicalisation for rival rebel groups.
Since the fall of the Assad regime, IS has attempted to use the apparent moderation of the former Islamist rebels who now lead the country as a recruitment tool for disaffected Islamist fighters.
IS social media channels and propaganda published pictures of the Syrian president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, meeting the US president, Donald Trump, in Riyadh in May, describing it as an apparent betrayal of his jihadist roots.
Syrian authorities have stressed religious minorities will be protected under their rule. Security personnel usually are posted at each entrance of the city’s Christian quarter, inspecting cars as they come in.
The Syrian minister of information, Hamza al-Mustafa, said: “This cowardly act contradicts the values of citizenship that unite us all. We, as Syrians, emphasise the importance of national unity and civil peace, and call for strengthening the bonds of fraternity between all components of society.”
View image in fullscreen A clergyman walks among debris at the scene of a suicide bombing at the Saint Elias church in Damascus, Syria on 22 June. Photograph: Mohammed Al Rifai/EPA
The Damascus municipality said security services were investigating the circumstances of the bombing.
Though nominally in power of most of Syria, the country’s new government has struggled to extend its control on the ground over the country. Syria is still full of militias, some of them more radical than others. The country’s defence ministry is in the process of folding militias into a unified national army and disarming those who refuse to join its ranks.
Since the territorial defeat of the so-called caliphate of IS in Syria, it has been mostly the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that have been leading the anti-IS fight. Cooperation between the SDF and the new Syrian government in fighting IS has been growing but is still in its infancy.
The US, as well as the other members of the anti-IS coalition in Iraq and Syria, have cited the resurgence of IS in Syria as one of their key concerns for the country.
India still in control, but costly errors keep England alive at Headingley
The first Test between India and England at Headingley remains evenly poised after three days, with India slightly ahead. However, costly fielding lapses and questionable selection choices may come back to haunt India later on. India may very well win this game, in fact statisticians CricViz have them as 48% favourites to do so (England 37%, the draw 15%) – but as those numbers indicate they could also quite easily lose too. If they do they may well look back and rue the small but crucial moments that could cost them dearly. India’s collapse from 430/3 to 471 all out is unfortunate. To do so on a pitch where three of your top five have already made hundreds smacks of carelessness. When Jasprit Bumrah had England under the cosh early on it was Indian mistakes that allowed the hosts to just about cling on. Zak Crawley was already back in the shed and both Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope looked far from secure at the crease.
Another day in the books at Headingley, another that ends with this Test fascinatingly poised – a back-and-forth contest with all results still very much possible.
India may very well win this game, in fact statisticians CricViz have them as 48% favourites to do so (England 37%, the draw 15%) – but as those numbers indicate they could also quite easily lose too and if they do they may well look back and rue the small but crucial moments that could cost them dearly.
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Thakur’s selection backfires?
Perhaps the first of these came before the toss, India opting for the selection of Shardul Thakur, picked as a bowling all-rounder who would bat at number eight.
Except Thakur only bowled six overs in England’s innings, which, considering it lasted more than 100 overs, is little more than a part-timer might expect to get. Not only that but they went for 38 wicketless runs – 6.33 per over – and to add insult to injury, he also managed to bowl nearly 30% of India’s no-balls too. To cap off the all-around performance, he also made just 1 with the bat.
If India had wanted Thakur in the side for his bowling then why did he bowl so little? It is difficult to argue that any of Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh or Kuldeep Yadav wouldn’t have added far more to the visitor’s cause on that front. And if they wanted someone to bolster the lower-order batting while chipping in with the occasional over, then surely Nitish Reddy would have made more sense.
India’s collapse proves costly
However, it would be churlish to lay all of the blame on the selection of Thakur. Arguably, when the dust settles from this match, the moment India will regret the most is the hour either side of the lunch break on Day Two. To collapse from 430/3 to 471 all out is unfortunate, but to do so on a pitch where three of your top five have already made hundreds smacks of carelessness.
Fielding errors may haunt India
Perhaps where India were the sloppiest though was in the field. When Jasprit Bumrah had England under the cosh early on it was Indian mistakes that allowed the hosts to just about cling on . Zak Crawley was already back in the shed and both Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope looked far from secure at the crease – it seemed more like a case of when rather than if the next Bumrah breakthrough would come.
Indeed, it should have been the last ball of the seventh over, Duckett carved Bumrah straight to backward point, except the normally outstanding Ravindra Jadeja spilled the catch; England’s opener reprieved on just 15, the hosts given an enormous let off.
It marked the start of a loose period in the field for India, several fumbles allowing England to pick off extra runs here and there – a gradual easing of the pressure at the very moment that they should have been trying their hardest to really turn the screw.
Pope would also be reprieved on 60, dropped by Yashasvi Jaiswal again off the bowling of Bumrah – he would have a century before the close.
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Even India’s premier fast bowler wasn’t immune from the disease, Bumrah overstepping for a potentially match-turning no ball when he’d had Harry Brook caught at midwicket for 0 – he would ultimately make 99 priceless runs to drag England almost to parity.
Unfortunately for India, their sloppiness in the field was something that carried over into Day Three. Brook given a lifeline with lunch looming, put down by Rishabh Pant on 46 off the bowling of Jadeja.
India still hold the edge
In fact, there was no greater beneficiary of Indian profligacy than Brook, bailed out again by a dropped catch on 82 – Jaiswal off the bowling of Bumrah for the second time in the match. Given he dropped both of England’s top scorers, it is fortunate the opener had plenty of credit in the bank following his sparkling first innings ton.
Ultimately, India should probably not be too concerned. Should they win, then all these moments will be forgotten; should they lose they can at least take solace in the fact that they have displayed enormous firepower with both bat and ball, with only a few minor adjustments needed to iron out the kinks. Whatever the result, on the evidence of three days in Leeds, we should be in for a cracking series.
At least 20 killed in suicide attack on Damascus church
People inspect the damage at the site of a suspected suicide attack at the Saint Elias church in Damascus. Security forces have repeatedly urged to protect minorities and ensure their participation in Syria’s transitional process. The company has repeatedly urged the government to stop the efforts of the Syrian state in achieving civil peace. The team is seeking to win a contract with the U.S. government to build a new building in New York City. The goal is to win the contract to build the new building by the end of the year. The project is expected to cost $1.5 million to $2 million. The building will be built on the campus of the University of New Hampshire. The construction will be completed in the fall of 2015. The first phase of the project will be held in New Hampshire and the second phase will take place in the spring of 2016. The third phase will occur in the summer of 2015 and the fourth phase in the autumn.
At least 20 people were killed Sunday in a suicide attack on a church in Damascus, authorities said, with Syria’s interior ministry blaming a member of the Islamic State group.
The United Nations condemned the attack, the first of its kind in the Syrian capital since Islamist-led forces toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, and the first on a church since the country’s civil war erupted in 2011.
Security remains one of the greatest challenges for Syria’s new authorities, whom the international community has repeatedly urged to protect minorities.
The interior ministry said in a statement that “a suicide attacker affiliated with the Daesh (IS) terrorist group entered the Saint Elias church in the Dwelaa area of the capital Damascus where he opened fire then blew himself up with an explosive belt”.
AFP correspondents saw first responders transporting people from the site, which was strewn with shattered wood from fittings and pews, with fallen icons and pools of blood seen on the floor. Security forces cordoned off the area.
A health ministry statement carried by state news agency SANA said 20 people were killed and 52 wounded, raising an earlier civil defence toll.
Bystander Lawrence Maamari told AFP that “someone entered (the church) from outside carrying a weapon” and began shooting, adding that people “tried to stop him before he blew himself up”.
– ‘Heinous crime’ –
United Nations special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen expressed “outrage at this heinous crime”, calling in a statement for “a full investigation and action by the authorities”.
France’s foreign ministry condemned an “abject, terrorist” attack, reiterating its commitment to “a transition in Syria that allows Syrians, whatever their religion, to live in peace and security in a free, united, pluralistic, prosperous, stable and sovereign” country.
Syria’s foreign ministry described the attack as “a desperate attempt to undermine national coexistence and to destabilise the country”.
Ziad, 40, said from a shop near the church that he heard gunfire then an explosion, and saw glass flying at him.
“We saw fire in the church and the remains of wooden benches thrown all the way to the entrance,” he said.
The blast sparked panic and fear in the church, which had been full of worshippers including children and the elderly, an eyewitness told AFP, requesting anonymity.
Several people were reported missing, with families searching desperately for their loved ones.
Assad had painted himself as a protector of minorities, who during Syria’s nearly 14-year civil war were targeted by numerous attacks, many claimed by jihadist groups including IS.
After the new authorities took power, the international community and visiting envoys repeatedly urged the government to protect minorities and ensure their participation in Syria’s transitional process, particularly after sectarian violence erupted in several parts of the country.
– Investigation –
Interior Minister Anas Khattab offered condolences for the victims and said that “specialised teams from the ministry have begun investigations into the circumstances of this reprehensible crime”.
“These terrorist acts will not stop the efforts of the Syrian state in achieving civil peace,” Khattab said according to a statement.
In an interview earlier this month, Khattab noted the security challenges facing Syria and said that IS had shifted “to studied attacks on strategic targets”.
He said IS had attempted “to carry out attacks against the Christian and Shiite community” that the authorities had thwarted.
Last month, IS claimed its first attack on Syria’s new government forces.
Also last month, Syrian authorities said they arrested members of an IS cell near Damascus, accusing them of preparing attacks, while another anti-IS operation in the northern city of Aleppo saw the death of one security officer and three IS members.
IS seized large swathes of Syrian and Iraqi territory in the early years of the civil war, declaring a cross-border “caliphate” in 2014.
US-backed Syria Kurdish forces defeated the proto-state in 2019, but the jihadists have maintained a presence, particularly in Syria’s vast desert.
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