Syria
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters pictured in Baghouz , Syria on March 23, 2019. Photo: AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Sunday strongly condemned the “cowardly terrorist attack” that struck the Mar Elias Church in Damascus, describing it as a crime against all Syrians who cherish peace and freedom.
Syria’s interior ministry reported that the “terrorist attack” occurred in the Dweilaa neighborhood of Damascus and was carried out by a suicide bomber affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS). According to the ministry, the attacker entered the church, opened fire on worshippers, and then detonated an explosive vest.
The Syrian health ministry later confirmed that at least 20 civilians were killed and 52 others wounded in the blast.
In a statement, the SDF extended its “condolences to the families of the martyrs,” emphasizing that the attack “targeted all Syrian components who love freedom and peace,” not just the Christian community.
“Terrorism represents a concern for all Syrians and is a common enemy of the authentic Syrian social fabric,” the Kurdish-led force stated, reaffirming its “steadfast commitment to combating terrorism” and its readiness “to participate in any Syrian effort against terrorism in all Syrian regions.”
The SDF serves the de facto military force in northeast Syria (Rojava) and remains the primary local partner of the US-led Global Coalition against ISIS.
ISIS has intensified its operations in SDF-controlled areas, targeting both civilians and security personnel. These developments have been documented by both the SDF and the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Although ISIS lost territorial control of its so-called caliphate in 2019, following a major offensive by Kurdish, Iraqi, and Syrian forces, the group continues to pose a persistent threat. It remains active in parts of Syria and Iraq, where it conducts hit-and-run attacks, bombings, and kidnappings - particularly in the remote deserts of central and eastern Syria, where it has sought to regroup.
However, the group remains a security threat and continues to carry out hit-and-run attacks, abductions, and bombings. In Syria, the jihadists have tried to take advantage of the changing security landscape after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime to regroup and reorganize, particularly in the vast central and eastern deserts.
SDF chief Mazloum Abdi has consistently warned about the ongoing danger of ISIS, particularly from within detention centers and displacement camps. In January, he urged a renewed focus on anti-ISIS operations, stressing the “need to intensify efforts to continue the fight against ISIS if we don’t want to see it make a comeback.”
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