Report: Islamic State Blows Up Christian Church in Syria on Easter Sunday

In their latest offense against the Christian minority in Syria, Islamic State militants reportedly blew up an 80-year-old church in the country's northeast on Easter Sunday.

The Syrian state news agency SANA reported that militants detonated explosives at the Church of the Virgin Mary in Tel Nasri, located in the northeastern province of Hassaka on Easter Sunday.

The news agency reported that although Kurdish troops have been fighting to regain control of the Assyrian village of Tel Nasri, the Islamic State continues to hold control of the small town.

According to Reuters, the SANA media outlet says the terrorist group successfully planted explosive devices under the church before detonating it. No one was reportedly killed in the attack.

Sunday's attack marks the most recent in a string of offenses carried out on the Christian minority by the Islamic State. Recently, Islamic State militants kidnapped over 200 Christians from a Syrian village.

Christians in parts of Syria and Iraq have also been forced with the ultimatum of either converting to Islam, paying a tax for being Christian, or suffering death.

Militants have also destroyed ancient Christian artifacts that were being kept safe at churches in Mosul.

Over Easter Sunday, Pope Francis said a special prayer for all persecuted Christians in the world.

"We ask Jesus, the victor over death, to lighten the sufferings of our many brothers and sisters who are persecuted for his name, and of all those who suffer injustice as a result of ongoing conflicts and violence, and there are many," he said.