The horrific attack on a Syrian church that claimed the lives of more than 25 and injured more than 60 others should raise a red flag on the internal situation in Syria, say activists close to victims of the tragedy. 

And many are urging the international community to take urgent action — before it’s too late — to ensure the post-Assad government of Syria delivers on its promise to guarantee the safety and equal rights of all its citizens.

A suicide bomber stormed into St. Elias Greek Orthodox Church during Mass June 22, opened fire on the congregation of 350, then detonated his explosive suicide vest. Saraya Ansari al-Sunna, described in the local media as a “shadowy extremist group,” has claimed responsibility for the attack that has left the whole Christian community traumatized and paralyzed with fear.

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The attack has dashed the hopes of even the small number of Christians who had retained a shred of hope that Syria had entered a new era with hopes they could practise their religion and live in peace in their ancient homeland. Now many are considering emigration as the only option, although a steadfast few, determined to preserve the 2,000-year Christian presence in the country, are determined to stay and help rebuild their homeland after 14 years of civil war.

“Immediately after the vicious attack that killed 25 and critically wounded another 65 as they were at Mass, no official from the al-Sharaa government came forward to offer support except the only Christian in the cabinet, Hind Kabawat, Minister of Social Affairs,” said a Syrian Christian activist in the Toronto area who requested anonymity as he feared for his safety, even though he had emigrated to Canada years ago and serves on the refugee committee of a Melkite (Eastern rite Catholic) church.

 “Our Patriarch John X issued a statement, respectfully appealing to the interim government to protect the lives and religious freedom of all Syria’s faith groups,” he said.

Mario Bard, head of information with the pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need Canada, said it’s imperative for the international community to take action.

“What a horrific attack,” he said. “Once again, a Christian minority community in the Middle East finds itself targeted. The local Church is already speaking of the death of its martyrs. It is a testament to the incredible faith, resilience and unshakable conviction of these communities. But that does not mean we can remain idle— far from it. ACN urges the international community not to look away and to act to ensure the protection of all religious communities in the Middle East.”

While urging governments to act, Bard reiterated that ACN will stand by its partners in Syria.

“We will continue to support the Christian community in Syria — as we have since the beginning of the war — including the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch, with whom we have stood in the past and will continue to stand with now,” he said.

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Nuri Kino of A Demand for Action, the Sweden-based humanitarian and advocacy organization he founded over 10 years ago to rally international support for Christians in Syria and Iraq targeted by ISIS for genocide, says the attack is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern in post-Assad Syria. 

“It should be a wake-up call for the international community,” he said. “We are producing video clips and a report documenting atrocities against Christians after Assad’s fall, which will be distributed to governments that defend human rights. Our aim is to pressure the international community to ensure that financial aid given to Syria is conditional on the regime protecting the security and equal rights of Christians and all other citizens.”

So far, the Canadian government’s response has been muted save for the usual diplomatic clichés about condemning such atrocities.

“Canada strongly condemns the terrorist attack at St. Elias Church in Damascus, which killed and injured civilians attending Mass on June 22, 2025.The targeting of civilians in a place of worship is deplorable,” said an email from the media relations team in response to a question The Catholic Register posed to Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand. “Canada stands in solidarity with Syria’s Christian community and encourages the Syrian transitional authorities to work with partners to strengthen protections for all religious and ethnic minorities. Civilians must be protected, the dignity and human rights of all religious and ethnic groups must be upheld and perpetrators must be held accountable.”

Global Affairs has acknowledged that Syria’s security apparatus is under-resourced and is not in full control of the country, as have others.

“The government’s military and security forces have not yet become organized under a central command and there is a power vacuum in that space,” said Ouhanes Shehrian, a Christian journalist based in Aleppo, Syria. “Different militias are in control of different parts of Syria, and this is a problem for the government.”

Shehrian was referring to the fact that although President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham) led the coalition that toppled dictator Assad, and now forms the government, it is difficult to find consensus with its all its militia allies on how to govern the country.

Although some observers claim it’s merely a cosmetic change, al-Sharaa has attempted to distance his party form its Islamist roots and has made some conciliatory gestures towards Syria’s faith and ethnic minorities. But they warn that some extremist elements within his party and other groups that control parts of the country cling to their Islamist ideology.

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Canada, the U.S. and EU have lifted sanctions on Syria after the fall of the Assad government, a move Archbishop Jacques Mourad, Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Homs had praised as a welcome one, and a harbinger of better times for the Syrian people. 

Shortly after the fall of Assad, Canada pledged $84 million in new funding for humanitarian assistance to Syria and took steps to ease existing sanctions for a period of six months, to support democratization, stabilization and the delivery of aid to and within Syria during this period of transition.