A quiet Sunday service at a Greek Orthodox church in Damascus turned into a scene of horror after a suicide bomber attacked during mass, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 50 others, according to Syria’s Ministry of Health.

A Devastating Attack During Worship

The bombing struck Mar Elias Church, one of the oldest Greek Orthodox churches in the Syrian capital, while it was filled with worshippers. According to Syria’s Interior Ministry, the attacker opened fire on the congregation before detonating an explosive vest inside the church.

Though no group has claimed responsibility, authorities say the attack was likely carried out by a suicide bomber affiliated with ISIS—a chilling reminder that extremist threats persist in a country still scarred by over a decade of conflict.

Harrowing Scenes and First Responder Efforts

Footage shared on Syrian social media showed the grim aftermath: shattered glass, broken pews, and blood covering the sanctuary floor. The White Helmets, Syria’s volunteer civil defense force, reported that emergency teams rushed to treat the wounded and recover the bodies.

“The treacherous hand of evil struck,” the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch said in a statement. The explosion happened right at the church entrance, it added, calling the victims “martyrs” and offering prayers for their families and for those injured.

Despite the tragedy, the church reaffirmed its resilience:

“We reject all fear and intimidation,” the Patriarchate wrote, “and remain unwavering in our faith.”

Outrage and Condemnation Around the World

The attack drew swift and widespread international condemnation.

The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, expressed “outrage” at what he described as a “heinous crime,” urging unity in rejecting terrorism and extremism in all forms.

The U.S. Special Envoy for Syria, Thomas Barrack, called the bombing an act of “cowardice,” saying it has “no place in the new tapestry of integrated tolerance and inclusion that Syrians are weaving.”

Foreign ministries from across the region and Europe—including Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Israel, Greece, Cyprus, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Ukraine, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands—also issued strong condemnations.

A Painful Reminder of a Fragile Peace

While Syria has seen a decrease in large-scale violence in recent years, attacks like this are a reminder of the fragile security situation and the enduring threat of extremism. For many Syrians, especially religious minorities, peace remains precarious.

For the congregation of Mar Elias Church, Sunday was meant to be a day of reflection and faith. Instead, it became one of mourning—and a solemn call for unity, healing, and vigilance.

Source: CNN – Suicide bomber attack on church in Syria kills at least 20 people

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A US citizen, who had been detained in Syria for months after entering the country on foot, was discovered by local residents near Damascus following a dramatic release. The man, later identified as Travis Timmerman, spoke to CBS News about his ordeal, detailing his escape as rebels overthrew the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Timmerman, who was arrested seven months ago, had been reported missing after his last known location in Budapest in May. He was found lying on a sofa, speaking with local reporters, shortly after rebels captured Damascus.

Rebels, including leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, vowed to shut down Assad’s notorious prisons and hold accountable those responsible for the torture and deaths of detainees. “We will pursue them in Syria and ask countries to hand over those who fled to achieve justice,” said al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani.

Timmerman described his dramatic release on Monday, the day after rebels toppled Assad’s regime. He was woken by the sound of his prison door being smashed open by two men armed with hammers. “I thought the guards were still there, so I was ready for more fighting, but once we got out, there was no resistance,” Timmerman said. He joined a large group of fellow prisoners attempting to reach Jordan, although he admitted to “moments of fear” during his escape.

Despite the uncertainty, Timmerman was well-received by local residents, who offered food and assistance as he made his way through the area. “They were coming to me, mostly,” he said, expressing gratitude for their help.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that the US is actively working to bring Timmerman home, although he withheld further details about the process.

Since Assad’s fall, thousands of prisoners have been released from Syrian jails. Videos have shown men, women, and even children emerging from overcrowded, windowless cells, often disoriented and unaware of the world outside. Timmerman, however, seemed to be in relatively good condition. He shared that he had access to a mobile phone during his detention and had even spoken to his family three weeks ago.

In a separate interview with NBC, Timmerman explained that he had crossed the mountains between Lebanon and Syria on a “pilgrimage” and had spent much of his time reading scripture.

The US has also asked Syria’s main rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), to help locate and free Austin Tice, a US journalist missing since 2012. President Joe Biden has stated that the US believes Tice is still alive, though his whereabouts remain unknown.

Syria’s prisons, notorious for brutal conditions, have seen widespread torture and death. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates that nearly 60,000 people were tortured or killed in Assad’s jails. As the regime’s collapse continues to unfold, desperate families are searching for loved ones, with help from the White Helmets.

Raed Saleh, director of the White Helmets, said, “We’re looking for secret prisons in several areas of Damascus” and expressed concern over the many families still searching for the lost. Some of the most notorious sites, like Saydnaya prison, have been described as “human slaughterhouses,” where thousands endured unimaginable horrors.

Despite their efforts, the White Helmets have struggled to locate all survivors. “We’ve helped recover thousands of detainees,” Saleh said, but acknowledged that many are likely either dead or have been moved elsewhere. Teams continue to search with sniffer dogs and lock-breaking tools in a desperate bid to uncover more survivors.

The search for justice and accountability in the aftermath of the Assad regime’s fall remains a top priority for many in Syria.

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Syrian rebels reported uncovering approximately 40 bodies showing signs of torture at Harasta Hospital, a military facility in a Damascus suburb. This grim discovery follows the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, who fled the country amid the rebels’ rapid advance.

Gruesome Evidence of Torture

Photos and videos released by the rebels depict bodies wrapped in blood-stained shrouds, stacked in a refrigerated room. Visible wounds, bruises, and adhesive tape bearing names and numbers were present on many bodies.

“I opened the mortuary door myself. It was a horrific sight,” said Mohammed al-Hajj, a rebel fighter. According to al-Hajj, the discovery was made following a tip from hospital staff. The rebels immediately informed their command and coordinated with the Syrian Red Crescent to transport the remains to a hospital in Damascus for identification by families.

Signs of Systematic Atrocities

It is unclear how long the bodies had been stored, but varying stages of decomposition suggest they had been there for some time. Human rights groups believe many of the victims were likely detainees from Saydnaya prison, infamous for torture and executions under Assad’s rule.

Diab Serriya, co-founder of the Association of Detainees and the Missing in Saydnaya Prison (ADMSP), stated that Harasta Hospital served as a hub for processing detainee bodies from Saydnaya and Tishreen Hospital before their transfer to mass graves.

Saydnaya: A “Human Slaughterhouse”

Saydnaya prison has long been synonymous with human rights violations. Amnesty International described it as a “human slaughterhouse,” estimating that over 30,000 detainees were killed between 2011 and 2018 through executions, torture, starvation, or lack of medical care. Recent reports indicate that at least 500 more detainees died between 2018 and 2021.

The ADMSP revealed that bodies from Saydnaya were temporarily stored in “salt chambers,” makeshift mortuaries designed to preserve corpses before burial on military grounds.

Search for Missing Detainees Ends Without Success

Simultaneously, the Syria Civil Defense, known as the White Helmets, concluded a comprehensive search of Saydnaya prison on Monday, aiming to uncover secret cells or underground areas where detainees might be held. Despite deploying specialized teams, sniffer dogs, and personnel familiar with the prison’s layout, no additional bodies or detainees were found.

“We share the profound disappointment of the families who still have no answers about their missing loved ones,” the White Helmets said in a statement.

A Legacy of Brutality

The ADMSP’s records indicate that, as of late October, approximately 4,300 detainees were held at Saydnaya, with many now presumed released following Assad’s ouster. Harrowing testimonies from former prisoners have shed light on the systemic abuse, with survivors recounting extreme torture and neglect.

Global Call for Accountability

Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist militant group instrumental in Assad’s fall, vowed to hold senior officials accountable for their roles in the regime’s torture practices. Jolani announced plans to publish the names of those responsible and offer rewards for information leading to their capture.

A Bleak Chapter in Syria’s History

The discoveries at Harasta Hospital and Saydnaya prison highlight the scale of human rights abuses under Assad’s regime. The international community has widely condemned these atrocities, with calls for justice and accountability growing louder. As Syria embarks on a fragile transition, the wounds of its brutal past remain raw, with thousands of families still searching for closure.

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As Syrians celebrated the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime this week, many faced an agonizing quest: locating loved ones who disappeared under his decades-long dictatorship. The notorious Saydnaya prison, infamous for its brutal history of detention, torture, and executions, became the focal point of this search.

A Symbol of Oppression and Horror

Saydnaya, located north of Damascus, has long been a grim symbol of the Assad regime’s brutality. Dubbed “the slaughterhouse,” Amnesty International estimates that as many as 13,000 people were hanged there between 2011 and 2015. The prison, shrouded in secrecy, was a place where opponents of the regime vanished, their fates unknown.

When rebels toppled Assad on Sunday, his flight to Russia signaled the end of an era of oppression. Images of prisoners being released from Saydnaya flooded social media, fueling hope for thousands of families desperate for answers. Traffic stretched for miles as crowds swarmed toward the prison, some abandoning their vehicles to walk the final stretch under the scorching sun.

Desperate Searches Amid Uncertainty

Among those searching was Maysoon Labut from Dara’a, the birthplace of the Syrian uprising. Labut sought three brothers and her son-in-law, holding onto the faint hope that they might still be alive. Fighting back tears, she shared her fears: “There’s no oxygen in the red section of the prison because the ventilation failed. They might all die.”

Rumors about hidden underground cells, known as the “red section,” spread rapidly, pushing families to dig deeper, both figuratively and literally. Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, led efforts to uncover these alleged secret cells. Volunteers drilled and searched, aided by sniffer dogs and silence from the crowd, hoping to hear the voices of trapped detainees.

However, by Monday evening, hopes were dashed. The White Helmets reported finding no evidence of undiscovered cells. The Association of Detainees and the Missing in Saydnaya Prison (ADMSP) confirmed that all prisoners had been released by Sunday, dismissing claims of hidden detainees as “unfounded.”

The Agony of Not Knowing

Despite these assurances, many families remain in limbo. Inside the prison, relatives combed through abandoned documents, illuminated only by cellphone flashlights, searching for any trace of their loved ones. A woman holding a faded photograph of her brother, missing for 12 years, expressed the heartbreak of uncertainty. “We just want to know if he’s dead or alive,” she said. “He has children who have never met him.”

The release of some prisoners has brought bittersweet reunions. Suheil Hamawi, a 61-year-old detainee held in various Syrian prisons for over three decades, returned home to his village in Lebanon. While overjoyed to reunite with his family, he reflected on the profound loss of time. “I realized how much I missed when my granddaughter called me ‘Grandpa.’ It’s a beautiful feeling, but it reminds me of everything I lost.”

A New Chapter, Yet Lingering Pain

As Syria turns a page in its history, the scars of the Assad regime’s atrocities remain fresh. Saydnaya prison stands as a haunting reminder of decades of suffering. For the families of the missing, the fight for truth and closure continues, even as the nation begins to rebuild from the ruins of tyranny.

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Syrian insurgent groups launched a significant attack on government-controlled areas in the country’s northwest, seizing territory in the region. The government and its allies responded with airstrikes and artillery fire to counter the insurgents’ advances, according to opposition groups.

The violence has displaced thousands of families and forced humanitarian organizations to pause some services. Volunteers from the Syrian Civil Defense (the White Helmets) reported that at least 18 people, including three children and two women, were killed in two villages in western Aleppo following airstrikes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a prominent war monitor, stated that the airstrikes were carried out by Russian warplanes.

Syria’s armed forces said the offensive was led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group that controls much of northwest Syria. The government claims that the offensive violates a 2019 de-escalation agreement between Turkey, which supports opposition factions, and Russia and Iran, which back the Syrian government. This agreement had effectively frozen the frontlines and prevented government forces from advancing into Idlib, the last major opposition-held area.

“The situation will return to how it was,” Syria’s army declared in a statement, emphasizing their ongoing efforts to confront what they call “terrorist organizations” with support from allied forces.

The insurgent attack began early Wednesday. Opposition factions claimed to have captured more than 15 villages in northwest Aleppo, along with a military base and weapons. They also reported taking several government soldiers hostage. On Thursday, the offensive expanded into Idlib province, where government forces control key locations, including a strategic highway and a town previously held by insurgents. These claims have not been independently verified.

Opposition fighters stated that their goal was to create conditions for the return of thousands of displaced people who fled government airstrikes in recent weeks.

The offensive follows weeks of rising tensions, with activists saying that government and Russian forces have intensified their bombardment of the opposition’s last stronghold. The International Rescue Committee reported that at least 7,000 families have been displaced by the recent violence, and several schools and health facilities have suspended operations, including those run by the IRC.

The offensive comes at a time when Iran-linked groups, which have supported the Syrian government since 2015, are focused on their own struggles at home. Israel and Hezbollah, a key member of the Iran-backed alliance, have been engaged in an escalating conflict since September. A ceasefire was announced on the same day the opposition launched their offensive. Israel has also increased attacks on Hezbollah and Iran-linked targets in Syria in recent months.

HTS, formerly known as the Nusra Front, was once affiliated with al-Qaeda but distanced itself from the group in recent years.

Russia and Iran have backed Syrian government forces since the outbreak of the war in 2011. Meanwhile, Turkey has supported various opposition groups and established a military presence in parts of northwest Syria. The United States has focused its support on Kurdish forces fighting the Islamic State in the eastern part of the country.

Turkey said Thursday it was closely monitoring the ongoing offensive in northern Syria. Turkish defense officials confirmed that measures have been taken to protect Turkish troops in the region.

Turkish security officials explained that the initial attack by the opposition was limited to Aleppo, where Syrian government forces began retreating. The offensive grew as government forces pulled back. The operation is believed to have been planned for months to drive government forces and allied militias out of the area to protect civilians. Turkey had previously attempted to prevent such operations to avoid further escalating tensions, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

The Turkish officials added that the ultimate goal of the offensive was to restore the boundaries of the de-escalation zone established by the 2019 agreement.

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