Syria's Interior Ministry says the sleeper cell behind a deadly church explosion near Damascus belonged to the Islamic State group.

Syria's top Christian leader said on Tuesday at the funeral for victims of a deadly church bombing that President Ahmed al-Sharaa's government bore responsibility for not protecting minorities and his condolences were insufficient.

Allentown’s Syrian Christians gathered for a vigil Wednesday to mourn the loss of more than two dozen fellow Syrians killed in a similar setting — gathering for worship at church. A man opened fire at the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus during a service Sunday evening before detonating an explosive vest,