Casualties reported in missile attack on Syria church opening ceremony

Deaths and injuries were reported after an attack on a church opening ceremony in central Syria on Sunday.

At least two people were killed and more than 10 others wounded when a missile targeted a mass gathering in the Al-Suqaylabiyah in the Hama governorate, reported state-run SANA.

The ceremony marked the opening of the Hagia Sophia church, the construction of which began in 2020.

SANA accused Turkey-linked "terrorist groups" of firing the missile, a label given by the Syrian regime to most opposition groups in the war-torn country.

It did not provide further information.

Videos on social media showed moments the attack happened as well as the aftermath.

#فيديو لحظة #الاستهداف لفصائل موالية ل #تركيا للاحتفال الديني بافتتاح كنيسة #آية_صوفيا في #السقيلبية #حماه وسط #سورية . pic.twitter.com/w8r7EDaN2e

— خالد اسكيف (@khalediskef) July 24, 2022

🚨شهيـ.ـدان و12 جريحاً جراء الاعتداء الإرهـ.ابي أثناء احتفال ديني في مدينة السقيلبية بريف #حماة . pic.twitter.com/fIIc01CEJU

— إدلب Online (@idleb_online) July 24, 2022

Other pro-regime reports said drones spotted flying over Al-Suqaylabiyah were "being dealt with by the Syrian army and national defence units," adding that one armed drone crashed near the site of the official attack.

It was not immediately made clear who was responsible.

Several armed factions and foreign armies are involved in the 11-year Syrian conflict, which is believed to have killed over half a million people. The war has left much of the country in ruins.