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

Syria's top Christian leader said on Tuesday at the funeral for victims of a deadly church bombing that President Ahmed al-Sharaa's government bore responsibility for not protecting minorities and his condolences were insufficient.

At least 20 people have been killed and 52 more are injured in a “terrorist attack” on a church in the Syrian capital on Sunday, according to the country’s health ministry.