Christmas Attack on Syrian Christians

“Our people continue their protests, courageously raising the cross high in the streets of Damascus, chanting, ‘Raise your cross up high!’ Their fearless hearts remain steadfast,” reads a tweet from an observer on the ground in Syria. The accompanying video captures Christians defiantly marching through the streets of Damascus on Christmas Eve.

This march follows the burning of a Christmas tree in Al-Suqaylabiyah, north of Hama, Syria, and serves as a protest by Christians against Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the ruling rebel faction that has seized control of much of the country after toppling Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Despite HTS’s promises of pluralism and religious tolerance, the group’s inability to protect Christians has sparked outrage.

The perpetrators of the arson have been identified as foreign Islamist fighters speaking Quranic Arabic and have already been apprehended. Free Burma Rangers (FBR), a faith-based frontline aid organization active in Syria, reports that daily security breaches in multiple areas continue to result in attacks on individuals and property by militants.

Syria’s Christian population has dwindled to around 600,000, with communities devastated by the civil war and targeted attacks. Between 2013 and 2014, Christians faced severe persecution by al-Qaeda-linked groups like Jabhat al-Nusra and its successor, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

In Ma’alula, a village known for its Aramaic heritage, over 30 Christians were abducted or killed, and churches were desecrated, while 12 nuns were kidnapped and later ransomed for $4 million. In March 2014, jihadists attacked the Armenian Christian town of Kessab, forcing over 2,500 residents to flee, desecrating churches, and destroying homes.

In September 2018, the Christian town of Mhardeh was struck by missiles from Ansar al-Tawhid, an HTS-linked group, killing 10 civilians and injuring 20. This assault, along with past atrocities, highlights the ongoing vulnerability of Syria’s Christian minority under Islamist influence. Despite HTS’s attempts to rebrand itself, such as renovating churches while restricting religious practices like ringing church bells, the group’s extremist roots and history of targeting Christians continue to generate fear and insecurity among the community. These incidents underscore the systematic targeting of Christians during the conflict and their precarious position in the region.

More recently, on December 18, 2024, a Greek Melkite Christian couple, Samaan Satme and Helena Khashouf, were brutally murdered in their home in Al-Jamasliyye, a village in the Wadi al-Nasara (Valley of Christians), Homs, Syria. Samaan was beheaded in the attack, initially reported as a burglary but later suspected of having more sinister motives. This incident is part of a growing wave of violence targeting Christians in the region, including murders, kidnappings, and attacks on churches. The ongoing threats underline the precarious position of Syria’s Christian community and the urgent need for international intervention to protect these vulnerable groups.

Syrian Christians, who have suffered immensely in the past, now find their safety precariously dependent on the uncertain promises of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group that originated from al-Qaeda. Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and HTS’s rapid takeover under Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, Christians are calling for either respect for their rights or the freedom to emigrate. Despite HTS’s claims of reform and promises of pluralistic governance, Christians remain distrustful due to the group’s history of persecution, including violence, desecration of churches, and forced conversions.

Many Christians, along with other minorities such as Alawites, Druze, and Shiites, initially celebrated the end of Assad’s dictatorship, which was marked by widespread abductions, torture, and mass killings. However, German radio’s Tag für Tag reported that Christians are now deeply uncertain about their future under the interim government, led by figures with ties to al-Qaeda and ISIS. Advocates are urging the international community to closely monitor HTS, as past promises of tolerance from similar groups have often proven hollow. For now, Christians continue to live in limbo, struggling to safeguard their communities and heritage amid ongoing political instability and sectarian tensions.

According to the Free Burma Rangers (FBR), the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have made progress near the Tishreen Dam, advancing along the western bank of the Euphrates River toward Manbij and taking control of several villages. However, the Turkish army and its affiliated armed groups continue to shell areas such as Tal Tamr, Ain Issa, Kobani, and the Qarqozat Bridge daily.

Turkey, directly and through its support of Islamist extremists, is accused of targeting Kurds and contributing to widespread violence. Despite these attacks, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) has been providing refuge to internally displaced people of all faiths and ethnicities fleeing the advancing Islamist forces. FBR noted growing fears of a Turkish invasion east of the Euphrates, echoing concerns raised by UN envoy Geir Peterson about the seriousness of the threat.

Meanwhile, Christians and other minorities remain caught in the crossfire as the two dominant factions, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Syrian National Army (SNA), both have histories of targeting Christians, Kurds, and other vulnerable groups. The Kurds are now struggling to defend their territory while also providing refuge to internally displaced people. Amid this turmoil, HTS’s promises of inclusion and harmony ring hollow, leaving minorities in a state of uncertainty and fear.