At least 20 killed in bombing at Damascus church

At least 20 people were killed and dozens injured when at an explosion at the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighbourhood of Syria's capital Damascus on Sunday, health authorities and security sources said.

It was the first such bombing in Damascus since Bashar al-Assad was toppled by a rebel insurgency in December.

Syria's interior ministry said the bomber was a member of the IS terror group and had entered the church, opened fire and then detonated his explosive vest.

A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two men were involved in the attack, including the one who blew himself up.

The terror group has been behind several attempted attacks on churches in Syria since Assad's fall, but this was the first to succeed, another security source told Reuters.

Syria's state news agency cited the health ministry as saying that 52 people were also injured in the blast.

A livestream from the site by Syria's civil defence, the White Helmets, showed scenes of destruction from inside the church, including a bloodied floor and shattered pews and masonry.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led the offensive against Assad before taking over in January for a transitional phase, has repeatedly said he will protect minorities. "We unequivocally condemn the abhorrent terrorist suicide bombing at the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus, Syria," the Greek foreign ministry said in a statement.

"We demand that the Syrian transitional authorities take immediate action to hold those involved accountable and implement measures to guarantee the safety of Christian communities and all religious groups, allowing them to live without fear."

The latest assault underscores the group's continued ability to exploit security gaps despite the collapse of its territorial control and years of counterterrorism efforts.