{"id":2467359,"date":"2025-07-27T14:14:01","date_gmt":"2025-07-27T18:14:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/islamic-state-backed-rebels-attack-a-catholic-church-in-eastern-congo-killing-at-least-34-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-07-27T14:15:47","modified_gmt":"2025-07-27T18:15:47","slug":"islamic-state-backed-rebels-attack-a-catholic-church-in-eastern-congo-killing-at-least-34-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/islamic-state-backed-rebels-attack-a-catholic-church-in-eastern-congo-killing-at-least-34-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Islamic State-backed rebels attack a Catholic church in eastern Congo, killing at least 34 &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fislamic-state-backed-rebels-attack-a-catholic-church-in-eastern-congo-killing-at-least-34-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2467359&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Islamic State-backed rebels, identified as members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), attacked a Catholic church in Komanda, Ituri province, eastern Congo, killing at least 34 people. The attack occurred around 1 a.m., with several houses and shops also set on fire. some victims&#8217; bodies remain at the site, with preparations underway for a mass burial. An earlier assault on the nearby village of Machongani resulted in at least five more deaths. The attackers reportedly came from a nearby stronghold and fled before <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/intruder-breaks-onto-andrews-air-force-base-shot-fired\/\" title=\"Intruder Breaks Onto Andrews Air ... Base, Shot Fired\">security forces arrived<\/a>. Local leaders condemned the violence and called for immediate military intervention, as the militants remain close to the town. the ADF, which has ties to the Islamic State, has been responsible for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hamas-attack-is-a-warning-to-america-about-the-risks-of-our-open-border\/\" title=\"Hamas attack warns America of open border risks.\">numerous deadly attacks<\/a> in the region since relocating from Uganda in 2002, and the Congolese army continues to struggle to contain their <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >activities amid broader regional conflicts<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Islamic State-backed rebels attack a Catholic church in eastern Congo, killing at least 34<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2182055\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>GOMA, Congo (AP) &mdash;<\/strong> Islamic State-backed rebels attacked a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/catholicism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Catholic church<\/a> in eastern&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/democratic-republic-of-the-congo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Congo<\/a>&nbsp;on Sunday, killing at least 34 people, according to a local <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-admin-responds-to-myanmars-military-coup-we-will-take-action\/\" title=\"Biden Admin Responds To Myanmar\u2019s Military Coup: We \u2018Will Take Action\u2019\">civil society leader<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Dieudonne Duranthabo, a civil society coordinator in Komanda, in the Ituri province, told The <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Associated-Press\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Associated Press<\/a><\/em>  that the attackers stormed the church in Komanda town at around 1 a.m. Several houses and shops were also burnt.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3483407\/thai-cambodian-leaders-meet-malaysia-end-deadly-border-dispute\/\">Thai and Cambodian leaders to meet in Malaysia for talks to end deadly border dispute<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3483394\/graham-israel-take-gaza-by-force-start-over\/\">Graham suggests Israel take Gaza by force and &#8216;start over&#8217; like US did in Tokyo and Berlin<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3482875\/macron-gaza-decision-government-alleviate-accusations-french-islamophobia\/\">Macron&#8217;s Gaza decision follows government plan to &#8216;alleviate&#8217; accusations of French &#8216;Islamophobia&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;The bodies of the victims are still at the scene of the tragedy, and volunteers are preparing how to bury them in a mass grave that we are preparing in a compound of the Catholic church,&rdquo; Duranthabo said.<\/p>\n<p>Video footage from the scene shared online appeared to show burning structures and bodies on the floor of the church. Those who were able to identify some of the victims wailed while others stood in shock.<\/p>\n<p>At least five other people were killed in an earlier attack on the nearby village of Machongani.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They took several people into the bush; we do not know their destination or their number,&rdquo; Lossa Dhekana, a civil society leader in Ituri, told the AP.<\/p>\n<p>Both attacks are believed to have been carried out by members of the Allied Democratic Force (ADF) armed with guns and machetes.<\/p>\n<p>Lt. Jules Ngongo, a spokesperson for the Congolese army in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/congo-militia-attack-ituri-codeco-6aae901ac2de9f6299d4387774258c40\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Ituri<\/a>, confirmed at least 10 fatalities in the Komanda church attack. However, U.N.-backed Radio Okapi reported 43 deaths, citing security sources. The attackers reportedly came from a stronghold about 12 kilometers (7 miles) from Komanda and fled before security forces arrived.<\/p>\n<p>Duranthabo condemned the violence in what he said was &ldquo;a town where all the security officials are present.&rdquo; He called for immediate military intervention, warning that &ldquo;the enemy is still near our town.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Eastern Congo has suffered deadly attacks in recent years by armed groups, including the ADF and Rwanda-backed rebels. The ADF, which has ties to the Islamic State, operates in the borderland between Uganda and Congo and often targets civilians. The group&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/allied-democratic-forces-congo-attack-irumu-ituri-657034df1abab3f76c1951ad575cf654\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">killed dozens of people<\/a>&nbsp;in Ituri earlier this month in what a United Nations spokesperson described as a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/allied-democratic-forces-congo-attack-irumu-ituri-657034df1abab3f76c1951ad575cf654\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">bloodbath<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The ADF was formed by disparate small groups in Uganda in the late 1990s following alleged discontent with President Yoweri Museveni.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3476730\/gabbard-evidence-prosecute-obama-trump-2016-election-narrative\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>&lsquo;WE HAVE EVIDENCE&rsquo; TO PROSECUTE OBAMA FOR 2016 ELECTION NARRATIVE, GABBARD SAYS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In 2002, following military assaults by Ugandan forces, the group moved its activities to neighboring Congo and has since been responsible for the killings of thousands of civilians. In 2019, it pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.<\/p>\n<p>The Congolese army (FARDC) has long struggled to contain the group, especially amid renewed conflict involving the M23 rebel movement backed by neighboring Rwanda.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2182055\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2182055\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Islamic State-linked rebels kill 34 at Congo church attack<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2970,"featured_media":2467360,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Congo-church-attack.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[4002,33551,59480,57830,13352],"class_list":["post-2467359","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-attack","tag-catholic-church","tag-eastern-congo","tag-islamic-state","tag-rebels"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Congo-church-attack.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2467359","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2970"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2467359"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2467359\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2467363,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2467359\/revisions\/2467363"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2467360"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2467359"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2467359"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2467359"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}