• At least 27 people have died in a suicide bombing at Mar Elias Church in Damascus.
• The attack, which occurred during mass, has raised concerns about the security of minority communities in Syria.
• The Islamic State has been implicated in the attack, but no group has formally claimed responsibility.
• Eyewitnesses reported chaos and panic as the explosion unfolded during a packed service.
• The international community has condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Syria's Christian population.

A suicide bomber attacked Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Damascus on Sunday, resulting in at least 27 fatalities and over 60 injuries. Witnesses reported that the assailant entered the church during mass, opened fire, and then detonated an explosive vest. Initial reports indicated that the bomber was affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) group, although no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, widely considered the first suicide bombing inside a church since the Syrian civil war began in 2011, according to aa, scmp, middleeasteye, and Reuters.

In the aftermath of the attack, the Syrian Interior Ministry reported that the bombing was a coordinated effort involving assistance from a second gunman. The Syrian Civil Defence deployed rescue teams to the scene, where images of the chaos revealed a church in ruins, with bloodied floors and shattered pews. Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa condemned the act, calling it a "heinous crime" targeting innocent worshippers, as per channelnewsasia, lemonde, and aa.

The attack has heightened fears among Syria's minority populations, particularly Christians, who wonder about their safety under the current Islamist-led government. Community members are questioning the efficacy of government assurances regarding their protection, a sentiment echoed by local residents and echoed in various media reports. The international community has expressed outrage and solidarity with the victims, pushing for investigations into the attack and stronger measures to protect vulnerable groups, as reported by aa, dawn, and bbc.