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.

Syrian Interior Ministry has linked the attack to the jihadist group Islamic State as governments around the world have condemned the attack.

The attack on a Greek Orthodox service made clear the challenges facing Syria’s new government in a country long pitted by sectarian divides.