ISIS Resurgence Sparks Alarm After Deadly Suicide Bombing at Damascus Church
Damascus, Syria – July 1, 2025: A devastating suicide bombing at St. Elias Church near Damascus has left 22 people dead and 63 injured, marking one of the deadliest attacks in Syria in recent years and raising urgent concerns about the resurgence of ISIS in the country. The attack, which targeted a Greek Orthodox congregation during a religious service, underscores the persistent threat posed by the extremist group despite its territorial defeat in 2019.
Syrian authorities reported that government forces thwarted a second suicide bombing attempt outside Damascus Hospital, successfully detaining the would-be attacker. In the aftermath, security operations across the Damascus area led to the arrest of several ISIS operatives and the seizure of a cache of weapons, including anti-tank missiles and explosives. Investigations are ongoing into the networks responsible for funding and coordinating these attacks.
The resurgence of ISIS comes amid a period of significant instability in Syria following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024. While the collapse of Assad’s government initially led to a dramatic reduction in ISIS activity—attacks dropped by 80% and fatalities by 97%—recent events indicate that the group is exploiting Syria’s fragile transition and ongoing violence to reestablish its presence.
Experts estimate that around 2,500 ISIS fighters remain active in Syria and Iraq, with thousands more detained in prisons and camps across northeastern Syria. The risk of mass prison breaks remains high, and ISIS continues to use these facilities as recruitment and propaganda tools. The group’s ability to infiltrate major cities from rural strongholds, as demonstrated in the latest attack, highlights the ongoing security challenges facing the new Syrian government.
The United States and its allies have warned that without sustained international pressure and effective governance in Syria, ISIS could regain the capacity to launch larger-scale operations both regionally and internationally. The situation is further complicated by tensions between Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Turkish-backed factions, and local Arab tribes, which threaten to undermine coordinated counterterrorism efforts.
As authorities continue their investigation, the deadly bombing at St. Elias Church serves as a stark reminder that ISIS, though weakened, remains a potent and adaptive threat in Syria’s evolving landscape.