<p>At least 15 people were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Syria's capital Damascus on Sunday, security sources said.</p><p>The incident marks the first suicide bombing inside Damascus since Bashar al-Assad was toppled by an Islamist-led rebel insurgency in December.</p><p>Syria's interior ministry said the suicide bomber was a member of the Islamic State. He entered the church, opened fire and then detonated his explosive vest, the ministry added in a statement.</p>.Syria completes first global SWIFT transfer since war, governor says.<p>A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two men were involved in the attack, including the one who blew himself up.</p><p>Syria's state news agency cited the health ministry as putting the preliminary casualty toll at nine dead and 13 injured.</p><p>A livestream from the site by Syria's civil defence, the White Helmets, showed scenes of destruction from within the church, including a bloodied floor and shattered church pews and masonry.</p><p>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 during his tenure.</p>
<p>At least 15 people were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Syria's capital Damascus on Sunday, security sources said.</p><p>The incident marks the first suicide bombing inside Damascus since Bashar al-Assad was toppled by an Islamist-led rebel insurgency in December.</p><p>Syria's interior ministry said the suicide bomber was a member of the Islamic State. He entered the church, opened fire and then detonated his explosive vest, the ministry added in a statement.</p>.Syria completes first global SWIFT transfer since war, governor says.<p>A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two men were involved in the attack, including the one who blew himself up.</p><p>Syria's state news agency cited the health ministry as putting the preliminary casualty toll at nine dead and 13 injured.</p><p>A livestream from the site by Syria's civil defence, the White Helmets, showed scenes of destruction from within the church, including a bloodied floor and shattered church pews and masonry.</p><p>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 during his tenure.</p>