#BreakingNews Violence in Syria Leaves Over 1,000 Dead Including Scores of Christians - Patriarchs Make a Joint Appeal
According to AP News over 1,000 people have been killed in 4 days of clashes. Scores of Christians were also among the dead. Government militias were led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, linked to Al Qaeda. The wave of violence began in the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartous, after ambushes carried out by remnants of the former army loyal to Bashar al-Assad against members of the current Syrian Military Operations Command. The reprisals have been directed especially against Qardaha, the hometown of former President Assad, and the coastal town of Baniyas, leading to massacres and extrajudicial executions against the Alawite community, a religious minority of Shiite origin to which both the Assad family and a large part of the leaders of the former regime, overthrown in December, belong.
A joint appeal was made by the leaders of the Churches in Syria, dated Saturday, March 8, has been signed by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Yohanna X, the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Youssef I Absi and the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Mar Ignatius Aphrem II. They spoke out against a “dangerous escalation of violence, torture and murder” against “innocent civilians, including women and children.”
The prelates firmly condemned the killings, calling for "adequate conditions" to get back on the path of "national reconciliation”, a view shared by many, including Hind Kabawar, the only Christian representative in the Committee of Seven who spoke recently to AsiaNews.
Rejecting all forms of “revenge and exclusion,” the patriarchs end their message by calling on Syrians to defend “the unity of the Syrian territory” and “seek peaceful solutions that preserve human dignity.”
The Apostolic Vicariate of the Latin Community in Syria has issued a statement expressing its deep concern over these attacks on innocent civilians. In the document, signed by Bishop Hanna and dated March 9, 2025, it states:
“We join the voice of every honest and patriotic person in this country, emphasizing our rejection of all forms of violence, revenge, and retaliation based on sectarian and religious grounds. We appeal to the country’s authorities to quickly put an end to these attacks, which are inconsistent with all human, moral and religious values.”Asia News reports that a Greek Orthodox priest was killed in cold blood; an entire family – grandparents, parents, children – slaughtered in their home; dozens of men, seniors, women and even children killed, execution-style only because they were Christians.
According to the Christian website Assyro-chaldéens, l'histoire continue, which cites local sources, the Christian victims include Fr Yohann Youssef Boutros, a Greek Orthodox priest at the Church of St Elias in Tartus, who was apparently killed by gunmen affiliated with the new Syrian government of President Ahmad al-Sharaa (nom de guerre Abou Mohammed al-Julani).
In his speech during the Mass on Sunday, March 9, 2025, Patriarch Yazigi prayed for God’s mercy “for the fallen civilians and public security forces,” and wished a speedy recovery for the injured and wounded. He expressed his support for the formation of a “fact-finding committee and holding accountable those responsible for the shedding of the blood of civilians and public security forces.”
His Beatitude said: “The bloody events taking place on the Syrian coast have left many dead and wounded among civilians and members of the General Security Forces. However, not all of those killed are remnants of the regime, but rather the majority of them are innocent and unarmed civilians, women and children.”
He added: “People’s privacy and dignity have been violated, and the chants and slogans being used spread division, lead to sectarianism and destabilize civil peace. Many cities, towns and villages have had their homes burned and their contents stolen. The targeted areas were Alawite and Christian areas.”
His Beatitude pointed out that "many innocent Christians were killed" in these events, and that "the residents of some areas were forced to leave their homes, then they were shot and killed, and then their homes, possessions and cars were stolen, as happened in Banias - Al-Qusour neighborhood" for example.
Patriarch Yazigi also pointed out that “the icon of the Virgin Mary is being smashed, trampled on and violated. She is the Virgin Mary, whom all Muslims honor with us, and whom the Holy Quran dedicated an entire Surah to, ‘Surat Maryam,’ and stated that God chose her and made her the most honorable of women in the world.”
Addressing President Sharaa, the Patriarch said: “This is not your speech, and these actions contradict your vision for a new Syria after the victory of the revolution. Therefore, our appeal to you is to stop these massacres with your wisdom and efforts. Stop them immediately! And give a sense of security and stability to all the people of Syria, regardless of their sect
These are but some of the heartbreaking news that has come out of Syria recently, relayed by advocacy groups, following clashes that began last week between factions loyal to Syria’s former President Bashar al-Assad and the new regime in Damascus. More than 800 deaths were reported from Tartus and Latakia, two coastal cities in the country’s predominantly Alawite region, once the stronghold of the Assad regime.
This follows attempts by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the militia of provisional President Ahmad al-Sharaa, to put down a revolt by Assad loyalists, resulting in summary killings of innocent civilians, including Christians.
Another "Christian martyr,” Fares Bassam Kawi, was killed in Latakia’s al-Datour neighbourhood, shot in the head, after he was “forced to walk on all fours like a dog.”
An entire family was massacred in the town of Banias, while a Christian man, Tony Khoury, was killed in the Syrian Maronite village of Dahr Safra, shot in the face.
Groups close to the HTS killed the mayor of Al-Mazraah, a Christian village in Wādī an-Naṣārá (Valley of Christians), as well as two Christians – father and son – of Armenian origin, in Latakia.
The father of Fr Gregorius Bechara, a priest with the parish of Notre-Dame of the Annunciation, was shot in Banias. He is one of dozens of Christian victims caught up in the fighting between HTS and former senior officers loyal to Assad.
Three months after the Islamist group seized power bringing to an end the Assad regime, Syria seems to be plunging again into a hot civil war. This is a dangerous escalation in a country still deeply divided, facing very serious economic problems whose territorial integrity is challenged by pro-independence Kurds in the north-east, and the interests of regional powers like Turkey in the north-west and Israel, which is further entrenching its occupation of the Golan Heights, in the south.
All this makes the work of the Constituent Assembly increasingly delicate and difficult. On paper at least, the latter should guarantee maximum representation to all of the country’s ethnic and religious groups, including the Alawites, to which the Assads belong.
Al-Sharaa spoke this morning, during Ramadan prayers, in Damascus, stressing national unity in the face of violence and summary executions perpetrated by groups affiliated with his movement.
“What is happening in Syria now is one of the expected challenges,” he said. In his view, Assad loyalists and (unspecified) foreign powers are inciting “new strife and drag our country into a civil war, aiming to divide it and destroy its unity and stability.”
Fr Jihad Youssef, of the monastery of Mar Musa, is among the many voices appealing against the violence. In addition to extending his condolences to the families of the victims, the "defenseless civilians" victims of "martyrdom", he urged the parties “not to return to the same battles and revenge” of the past. For him, “revenge does not bring justice.”
“I am speaking here as a Syrian citizen,” he said, “as a Christian man, as one of you, as an Alawite, as a Sunni, as a Druze, as a Kurd, as an Arab, Sunni, Assyrian, Armenian, Eastern, Turkmen, all those who live on Syrian land, all those who feel, all those who feel and are in pain with each other, all those who feel and are in pain with each other.”
Calling on Syrians to put aside the injustices of the past, the clergyman believes that his countrymen and women must “make peace and forgive,” and look to the future while remembering the past to “learn from it and not repeat mistakes.”
To this end, he calls on Christians and Muslims to take part in a vigil of fasting and prayer "for peace and reconciliation on the coast and throughout the country.”
In light of this tragedy, Regina Lynch, Executive President of Aid to the Church in Need, has issued a call to prayer:
“In these moments of pain and suffering, we turn to the only true source of peace: prayer. We ask all the faithful to raise their voices to the Lord, trusting in His love and power to bring comfort to those who need it most. May Our Lady of Syria protect the people in this country, that has endured too many wounds over the past decade. Now, more than ever, we must pray for its healing and future. May faith keep us united and may hope in Christ illuminate this suffering nation.”
The prelates firmly condemned the killings, calling for "adequate conditions" to get back on the path of "national reconciliation”, a view shared by many, including Hind Kabawar, the only Christian representative in the Committee of Seven who spoke recently to AsiaNews.
Rejecting all forms of “revenge and exclusion,” the patriarchs end their message by calling on Syrians to defend “the unity of the Syrian territory” and “seek peaceful solutions that preserve human dignity.”
The Apostolic Vicariate of the Latin Community in Syria has issued a statement expressing its deep concern over these attacks on innocent civilians. In the document, signed by Bishop Hanna and dated March 9, 2025, it states:
“We join the voice of every honest and patriotic person in this country, emphasizing our rejection of all forms of violence, revenge, and retaliation based on sectarian and religious grounds. We appeal to the country’s authorities to quickly put an end to these attacks, which are inconsistent with all human, moral and religious values.”Asia News reports that a Greek Orthodox priest was killed in cold blood; an entire family – grandparents, parents, children – slaughtered in their home; dozens of men, seniors, women and even children killed, execution-style only because they were Christians.
According to the Christian website Assyro-chaldéens, l'histoire continue, which cites local sources, the Christian victims include Fr Yohann Youssef Boutros, a Greek Orthodox priest at the Church of St Elias in Tartus, who was apparently killed by gunmen affiliated with the new Syrian government of President Ahmad al-Sharaa (nom de guerre Abou Mohammed al-Julani).
In his speech during the Mass on Sunday, March 9, 2025, Patriarch Yazigi prayed for God’s mercy “for the fallen civilians and public security forces,” and wished a speedy recovery for the injured and wounded. He expressed his support for the formation of a “fact-finding committee and holding accountable those responsible for the shedding of the blood of civilians and public security forces.”
His Beatitude said: “The bloody events taking place on the Syrian coast have left many dead and wounded among civilians and members of the General Security Forces. However, not all of those killed are remnants of the regime, but rather the majority of them are innocent and unarmed civilians, women and children.”
He added: “People’s privacy and dignity have been violated, and the chants and slogans being used spread division, lead to sectarianism and destabilize civil peace. Many cities, towns and villages have had their homes burned and their contents stolen. The targeted areas were Alawite and Christian areas.”
His Beatitude pointed out that "many innocent Christians were killed" in these events, and that "the residents of some areas were forced to leave their homes, then they were shot and killed, and then their homes, possessions and cars were stolen, as happened in Banias - Al-Qusour neighborhood" for example.
Patriarch Yazigi also pointed out that “the icon of the Virgin Mary is being smashed, trampled on and violated. She is the Virgin Mary, whom all Muslims honor with us, and whom the Holy Quran dedicated an entire Surah to, ‘Surat Maryam,’ and stated that God chose her and made her the most honorable of women in the world.”
Addressing President Sharaa, the Patriarch said: “This is not your speech, and these actions contradict your vision for a new Syria after the victory of the revolution. Therefore, our appeal to you is to stop these massacres with your wisdom and efforts. Stop them immediately! And give a sense of security and stability to all the people of Syria, regardless of their sect
These are but some of the heartbreaking news that has come out of Syria recently, relayed by advocacy groups, following clashes that began last week between factions loyal to Syria’s former President Bashar al-Assad and the new regime in Damascus. More than 800 deaths were reported from Tartus and Latakia, two coastal cities in the country’s predominantly Alawite region, once the stronghold of the Assad regime.
This follows attempts by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the militia of provisional President Ahmad al-Sharaa, to put down a revolt by Assad loyalists, resulting in summary killings of innocent civilians, including Christians.
Another "Christian martyr,” Fares Bassam Kawi, was killed in Latakia’s al-Datour neighbourhood, shot in the head, after he was “forced to walk on all fours like a dog.”
An entire family was massacred in the town of Banias, while a Christian man, Tony Khoury, was killed in the Syrian Maronite village of Dahr Safra, shot in the face.
Groups close to the HTS killed the mayor of Al-Mazraah, a Christian village in Wādī an-Naṣārá (Valley of Christians), as well as two Christians – father and son – of Armenian origin, in Latakia.
The father of Fr Gregorius Bechara, a priest with the parish of Notre-Dame of the Annunciation, was shot in Banias. He is one of dozens of Christian victims caught up in the fighting between HTS and former senior officers loyal to Assad.
Three months after the Islamist group seized power bringing to an end the Assad regime, Syria seems to be plunging again into a hot civil war. This is a dangerous escalation in a country still deeply divided, facing very serious economic problems whose territorial integrity is challenged by pro-independence Kurds in the north-east, and the interests of regional powers like Turkey in the north-west and Israel, which is further entrenching its occupation of the Golan Heights, in the south.
All this makes the work of the Constituent Assembly increasingly delicate and difficult. On paper at least, the latter should guarantee maximum representation to all of the country’s ethnic and religious groups, including the Alawites, to which the Assads belong.
Al-Sharaa spoke this morning, during Ramadan prayers, in Damascus, stressing national unity in the face of violence and summary executions perpetrated by groups affiliated with his movement.
“What is happening in Syria now is one of the expected challenges,” he said. In his view, Assad loyalists and (unspecified) foreign powers are inciting “new strife and drag our country into a civil war, aiming to divide it and destroy its unity and stability.”
Fr Jihad Youssef, of the monastery of Mar Musa, is among the many voices appealing against the violence. In addition to extending his condolences to the families of the victims, the "defenseless civilians" victims of "martyrdom", he urged the parties “not to return to the same battles and revenge” of the past. For him, “revenge does not bring justice.”
“I am speaking here as a Syrian citizen,” he said, “as a Christian man, as one of you, as an Alawite, as a Sunni, as a Druze, as a Kurd, as an Arab, Sunni, Assyrian, Armenian, Eastern, Turkmen, all those who live on Syrian land, all those who feel, all those who feel and are in pain with each other, all those who feel and are in pain with each other.”
Calling on Syrians to put aside the injustices of the past, the clergyman believes that his countrymen and women must “make peace and forgive,” and look to the future while remembering the past to “learn from it and not repeat mistakes.”
To this end, he calls on Christians and Muslims to take part in a vigil of fasting and prayer "for peace and reconciliation on the coast and throughout the country.”
In light of this tragedy, Regina Lynch, Executive President of Aid to the Church in Need, has issued a call to prayer:
“In these moments of pain and suffering, we turn to the only true source of peace: prayer. We ask all the faithful to raise their voices to the Lord, trusting in His love and power to bring comfort to those who need it most. May Our Lady of Syria protect the people in this country, that has endured too many wounds over the past decade. Now, more than ever, we must pray for its healing and future. May faith keep us united and may hope in Christ illuminate this suffering nation.”
Sources:
https://acninternational.org/aid-to-the-church-in-need-calls-for-intense-prayer-for-syria-amid-violence-and-uncertainty/
https://abouna.org/
https://www.fides.org/en/news/76126-ASIA_SYRIA_Sectarian_massacres_Patriarchs_of_the_Churches_call_for_an_end_to_the_logic_of_revenge
https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Christians-among-the-victims-of-a-massacre-in-al-Sharaa's-'new-Syria'-62652.html
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