On June 22, an Islamist terrorist entered the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus mid-service, opening fire on the crowd before detonating his suicide vest. The attack killed 25 and injured 63. While it is not yet known who is responsible for the attack, the new Syrian regime under Ahmed al-Sharaa has failed to assuage the concerns of Syrian Christians who fear further violence. The apparent trend of the new regime’s security forces failing to rid themselves of signals of previous allegiance to one or another armed group active during the civil war creates two hazards. First, agents of Islamic State (IS) may more easily disguise themselves as regular members of the security forces. Second, the phenomenon gives religious minorities more reasons to fear sectarian violence at the hands of armed agents of the new regime.
Brief: Attack on Damascus Church Exposes Fragile Protection for Syria’s Christians – Jamestown
