Baghdad: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the terrorist attack that targeted St. Elias Church in Damascus on Sunday evening, killing 22 people and wounding 63 others.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, in a post on Twitter on Monday, the Turkish president said, “We will not allow Syria to be dragged back into an unstable environment by terrorist organizations affiliated with others, and we will continue to support the Syrian government in its efforts to combat terrorism.”

Erdogan stressed that Turkey stands with the Syrian people and government in confronting “this despicable terrorist act that targets Syria’s security, safety, internal harmony, the culture of coexistence, and the stability of the region.”

The Syrian Interior Ministry announced on Sunday that a suicide bomber affiliated with the terrorist organization ISIS entered St. Elias Church in Damascus and opened fire before detonating an explosive vest.

According to the Syrian Ministry of Health, the attack killed 22 people and wounded 63 others. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the incident.

The Syrian Ministry of Interior announced at the end of last month the arrest of ISIS cells in the Damascus countryside and the seizure of light and medium weapons.

Since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, the Syrian Security Directorate and relevant authorities have continued to pursue suspects involved in crimes, violations, and general terrorist activities.