Christian communities in Syria have suffered a series of violent assaults, with dozens of homes destroyed and places of worship attacked.
According to reports received by Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), on 15th July, the village of Al-Soura Al-Kabira in the southern governorate of Suwayda came under attack. 38 homes belonging to Christian families were set ablaze, leaving residents homeless. Around 70 people have taken refuge in a church hall in the nearby town of Shahba.
“This community has lost everything,” one local source told ACN. “They had very little to begin with – they were already among the poorest in the region – and now they have nothing left.”
St Michael’s Melkite Greek-Catholic Church in the village was also reportedly torched by unidentified assailants. The full scale of the damage remains unclear due to restricted access, but images circulating on social media appear to confirm the destruction.
Neighbouring areas are also feared to be affected. The village of Al-Mazraa was reportedly targeted, though details remain unconfirmed.
The motive behind the attacks has not been officially established, but sources suggest they may be linked to sectarian tensions and extremist violence.
In a separate incident in western Syria, a bombing attempt was foiled at Mar Elias Maronite Church in Al-Kharibat, Tartous Governorate. On the night of 13 July, security forces and local residents discovered a car rigged with explosives and weapons parked near the church. The suspects were captured in an ambush before the bomb could detonate.
These events follow last month’s suicide bombing at St Elias Orthodox Church in the Dweil’a neighbourhood of Damascus on 22 June, which killed at least 30 people and left more than 50 injured.
