NNA - President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, on Monday cabled Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, offering condolences over the victims of the terrorist bomb attack that targeted the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Elias in the Dweila neighbourhood of Damascus last night.

The cable read: "With deep sadness and sorrow, we received the news of the heinous bombing that targeted the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Elias in Damascus yesterday evening, which resulted in a number of innocent victims and the wounding of others.

While we condemn in the strongest terms this cowardly terrorist act, which targeted a sacred site in the heart of the Syrian capital, we affirm the solidarity of the Lebanese Republic, its president and people, with the sisterly Syrian Arab Republic in this painful tragedy.

We extend our deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to Your Excellency, the families of the victims, and the Orthodox Church in Syria. We ask God to have mercy on the victims, grant a speedy recovery to the wounded, and protect the unity of Syria and its people from all harm.

President Aoun made a phone call this morning to Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All The East John X Yazigi, offering his condolences for the victims of the terrorist church bombing and wishing a speedy recovery for the wounded.

President Aoun stressed to Patriarch Yazigi his strong condemnation of this crime and his solidarity with the families of the victims and the injured, as well as with the brotherly Syrian people.

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