I’m shocked
“Member of Syrian Ministry of Defence involved in suicide bomb attack at Mar Elias Church in Al-Duwailaa“ - Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (lol)
https://www.syriahr.com/en/364788/
If you’re wondering what the “provocations against Islamic Dawa and Muslims by Damascus’ Christians” were, it was a group kicking a dawah truck out of their neighborhood. These vehicles are, basically, giant speakers mounted on cars, vans, or trucks that spew propaganda inciting against Christians, Shia, and Alawites. These are implicitly government sanctioned and are only pushed back on by the communities they target, rather than official bodies
https://t.me/syriajusticearchive/3625
https://t.me/syriajusticearchive/3646
I believe this is the specific instance that was referenced by the group claiming the bombing. Per the caption, it was actually Muslims who initiated the confrontation with those railing against Christians
https://t.me/syriajusticearchive/3645
I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure these weren’t commonplace (especially in Damascus) under Assad, if they existed at all. The previous government certainly wasn’t referring to terror attacks as “martyrdom operations”. Could an Arabic speaker confirm the words said match the headline?
“General Security” Official Calls Church Bombing a “Martyrdom Operation” Live on Air
“DHS Awards $94 Million in Grants to Help Protect 512 Jewish Faith-Based Organizations from Targeted Violence and Terrorism”
https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/06/27/dhs-awards-94-million-grants-help-protect-512-jewish-faith-based-organizations
Definitely genuine concern about religious bigotry, for sure. Anyone playing into the “spike in antisemitism” smear is covering for Zionist genocide, intentionally or unintentionally
full text
Following the terror attack in Boulder, CO and the murder of two Israeli Embassy staffers, DHS is working to counter the concern rise in antisemitic violence and terrorism
WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Homeland Security announced it is awarding $94,416,838 to over 512 Jewish faith-based organizations across the United States through its National Security Supplemental (NSGP-NSS).
This money, part of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, will be used to help these organizations harden their defenses against attacks. This allocation comes after a terrorist attacked demonstrators with a flamethrower and Molotov cocktails at an event in support of hostages in Gaza, and after two Israeli Embassy staffers were murdered in Washington, DC, by a terrorist who shouted, “Free Palestine.” In 2024, the ADL said it recorded a record high of 9,354 antisemitic incidents in the U.S., marking a 344% increase over the past five years.
“DHS is working to put a stop to the deeply disturbing rise in antisemitic attacks across the United States,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “That this money is necessary at all is tragic. Antisemitic violence has no place in this country. However, under President Trump and Secretary Noem’s leadership, we are going to do everything in our power to make sure that Jewish people in the United States can live free of the threat of violence and terrorism.”
The program, operated through FEMA, will help protect Jewish faith-based institutions from further attacks, and was advocated for by over 40 plus Jewish organizations. The funding was appropriated by Congress in response to a surge in antisemitic threats linked to the Israel Hamas war. All faith-based institutions were eligible to apply for grant funding to help defend themselves from threats including houses of worship, educational facilities, medical facilities, community centers and other faith-based institutions. More grant disbursements will follow from the NSGP