The pastor of a church in Syria is reported to have been killed, along with around 20 members of his family.

Pastor Khalid Mezher, who was of Druze origin, had converted to Christianity with his family many years ago. He was the pastor of the Good Shepherd Evangelical Church in Suwayda. Syrian media say he and his siblings, their children and his parents were murdered over the weekend.

Yesterday afternoon, the Syrian Orthodox Church launched an urgent appeal for the United Nations and the international community to intervene in the conflict in Syria.

In a statement posted online, the Archdiocese of Bosra, Hauran, Jabal al-Arab (Mount Druze) and the Golan for Greek Orthodox described the war as "savage" and called for swift intervention to stop "terrorist massacres" in Suwayda. It said the violence was claiming "the lives of young and old" and urged people to "pray that this cry reaches the whole world".

US evangelical leader Johnnie Moore, who recently became the executive director of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), said on X: "This weekend we mourn the senseless murder of Pastor Khalid Mezher, leader of the Good Shepherd Evangelical Church, in Sweida, Syria. He was killed by terrorists along with his entire family… siblings, children, & parents…20 dead.

"Pastor Khalid died for a faith that many Christians hardly live. They are now martyrs who gave their entire lives, in difficult circumstances, to share the love of Jesus with their neighbors and beloved Syria." 

A fragile US-brokered ceasefire in southern Syria appears to be holding following a week of sectarian violence in the region between Bedouin fighters and militias from the Druze religious minority.

More than 250 people have been killed in the violence, which threatens to unravel the fragile coalition which has been in place since the overthrow of President Bashar al Assad in December 2024, after 13 years of civil war.

Civilians are also struggling with a lack of food and electricity.