The SDF calls on the Syrian government to conduct a transparent and credible investigation into the suicide attack against a church in Damascus and refutes current claims regarding the origin of the perpetrators.
The Press Center of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) released a statement refuting the claims made by the spokesperson for the Syrian Ministry of the Interior regarding the origin of the suicide bombers who carried out the attack on the Mar Elias Church in the Christian neighborhood of Al-Duwaila in Damascus. The attack on June 22 left a number of civilians dead and injured, and caused significant damage to the church.
The SDF statement reads as follows:
“The spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior in the Damascus Government has claimed that the two suicide bombers who carried out the terrorist attack on the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood originated from the al-Hol Camp in North and Eastern Syria and were not Syrian nationals. We confirm that this information is incorrect and is not based on facts or real events.
In response to these allegations, the relevant departments within our forces immediately initiated a thorough review and investigation of the records pertaining to the residents of al-Hol Camp, including those who have exited the camp in recent months. The investigation confirmed that the only individuals who left the camp during this period were Syrians, and their departure occurred at the request of the Damascus Government. Additionally, Iraqi nationals were repatriated to Iraqi territory based on verified lists submitted by the Iraqi authorities, who ensured their relocation to the al-Jad’ah Camp.
It is important to clarify that al-Hol Camp accommodates families of ISIS members—both Syrian and foreign—comprising primarily women and children. The camp does not house foreign terrorist fighters. This directly contradicts the claim made by the Ministry spokesperson that the “non-Syrian nationals” perpetrators of the church attack originated from the camp.
Our forces—the only Syrian force to have fought and defeated ISIS in al-Baghouz in 2019—continue to carry out their responsibilities in partnership with the International Coalition to combat terrorism. We remain morally and nationally committed to this mission and stand ready to expand our efforts as necessary, in full coordination with International Coalition forces.
As we mourn the victims of the Dweila massacre, we urge the Damascus Government to conduct a transparent and credible investigation and to publicly release its findings and supporting evidence. This is the only way to prevent the recurrence of terrorist attacks.”
