Suicide bombing kills at least 20 at Damascus church
At least 20 people were killed and more than 50 injured after a suicide bomber attacked a church in central Damascus, Syria’s capital, on Sunday, officials confirmed.
Not long ago, the idea of an openly religious gathering in a Damascus synagogue would have seemed unimaginable. Yet, with the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime late last year, the impossible has become reality.
Among those stepping back onto the worn stones of Damascus’s Old City was Rabbi Joseph Hamra, once a leading figure in Syria’s dwindling Jewish community. Accompanied by his son Henry, Hamra returned home after more than three decades in exile. With the help of the Syrian Emergency Task Force—a Washington-based advocacy group supporting Syria’s democratic transition—the father and son made their way to the Elfrange (Faranj) Synagogue, where history was made.
For the first time since the 1990s, Hebrew prayers echoed within the synagogue’s ancient walls.
"The last time I prayed here was before I left for America," said the 77-year-old rabbi, his voice thick with emotion. "Now, after 34 years, I stand here again."
Hamra was the last rabbi to leave Syria in the 1990s, part of a mass exodus that saw the country’s Jewish population plummet. Once numbering around 5,000, only a handful remained after the Syrian government eased travel restrictions in 1992. Today, just seven elderly Jews are believed to live in Damascus.
The visit, however, was more than just a personal homecoming. Mouaz Moustafa, executive director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, expressed hope that the delegation’s presence would encourage more Syrian Jews to return and help make the case for Washington to lift the sanctions imposed during Assad’s rule.
Moustafa also pointed to a broader objective: signalling that Syria’s new authorities were serious about their pledges to protect minorities.
For decades, Syria’s Jewish community had lived under heavy restrictions. While Hafez al-Assad allowed religious practice, he barred most Jews from leaving the country, fearing they harboured sympathies for Israel. Bashar al-Assad maintained an image of protecting minorities, but the outbreak of civil war in 2011 effectively erased Jewish life from public view. Synagogues across the country shut down, and the historic Jobar Synagogue—a site of pilgrimage for Jews worldwide—was looted and left in ruins.
Now, as the Assad’s grip has been broken, Syria faces an uncertain future. The new authorities have vowed to build an inclusive Syria, but deep scepticism remains.
For community elder Bakhour Chamntoub, however, Hamra’s return offered a moment of joy.
"I need Jews with me in the neighborhood," Chamntoub said in the Jewish quarter. "For nearly 40 years, I haven’t prayed with others. The feeling is indescribable."
As the prayers concluded, a quiet optimism lingered in the air. Whether Syria’s Jewish community can truly be reborn remains uncertain. But for now, in a synagogue that had stood silent for years, faith has found its voice once more.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
Wizz Air has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, and its European services to Amman, Jordan, effective immediately until 15 September due to escalating situation in the Middle East. Also, the air carrier temporarily suspended its flights between Astana, Kazakhstan, and Abu Dhabi.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone conversation on Thursday (24 June), exchanging views on a broad range of bilateral and international issues.
China’s annual “Two Sessions” meetings, held from March 4 to 11, offered fresh insight into the country's climate and energy outlook for 2025.
The 11th MINEX Central Asia Forum took place in Tashkent under the theme “Forging Central Asia's Role in Global Critical Minerals Security”, gathering stakeholders from across the region to explore collaboration and investment opportunities in the mining and critical minerals sector.
Tajikistan and Qatar are exploring ways to strengthen their bilateral relationship, focusing on expanding cooperation in economics, trade, and investment.
Uzbekistan and Russia have signed a new agreement to explore the construction of a large-capacity nuclear power plant, while also revising plans for a previously announced small modular nuclear power plant (SMR).
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