Statement on Sectarian Violence in Mar Elias

The Alawite Association of the United States (AAUS) condemns in the strongest terms the June 22, 2025 suicide bombing that reportedly took place at Mar Elias cathedral in central Damascus. The Alawite community stands in solidarity with our Christian brothers and sisters during this dark time.

This despicable attack, and an earlier attack on the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Holy Belt (Umm Al-Zannar) in Homs on June 8, 2025, are part of a dangerous pattern of extremist violence targeting Syria’s ethnic and religious minorities. We mourn with the victims of these terrible events, pray for the safety of Syria’s Christian communities, and hope that the perpetrators will be held responsible.

The Mar Elias suicide bomber was reportedly a member of the Islamic State (IS). The AAUS is deeply concerned about the recent resurgence of ISIS in Syria and the Syrian regime’s integration of thousands of foreign jihadist fighters into the Syrian military and security apparatus. We fear that these developments set the stage for future existential threats to Syria’s many diverse minority communities—including Christians, Alawites, Kurds, Druze, and others.

The AAUS calls upon the international community to condemn the Mar Elias suicide bombing and ensure that Syria’s interim government works to eliminate terrorism, jihadism, and extremist ideologies from all corners of Syria’s social, political, and military infrastructure.