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

DAMASCUS (Reuters) -Syrian Christians were struggling on Monday to understand why their community was targeted in a suicide attack and whether they can rely on the Islamist-led government's assurances of protection.

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,