As alarming sectarian violence swept through Syria in the third week of July, Christian communities in the region experienced a new wave of persecution. Source: OSV News.
Attacks on the country’s Christian, Druze and Alawite communities were perpetrated mainly by Islamist jihadists.
The southern district of Sweida, a predominantly Druze region with a substantial Christian population, witnessed horrific attacks causing deaths and injuries to civilians, religious officials, and on churches and other buildings last week.
These minorities are experiencing a growing deep distrust towards the Islamist-led government now in power in Damascus.
The Greek Melkite Church of St Michael in the Sweida village of Al-Sura was attacked and set ablaze by unknown assailants, according to witness accounts made to the pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need on July 15.
Photos on social media confirm the attack, but access to the area has not been possible due to ongoing violence taking place.
Much of the recent atrocities have been levelled against the Druze community, where the death toll has exceeded 600 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The escalating violence prompted neighbouring Israel to intervene in response to calls made by its own Druze community to help.
Read more: https://cathnews.com/2025/07/21/christians-in-syria-hit-by-new-wave-of-sectarian-violence/
By Dale Gavlak, OSV News
