Syria Massacre Leaves Christians Asking If They’re Next

ADI OWEIS, a Syrian Greek Orthodox member now based in Maryland, received harrowing alerts from friends in Syria last week as violent sectarian clashes erupted in the coastal Alawite region. Graphic videos depicting entire families massacred and rows of lifeless bodies shocked communities, leaving many, including Syrian Christians, on high alert for what may come next.

According to a report in Christianity Today, in the aftermath of violence that claimed over 1,300 lives—mostly civilians from the Alawite minority—there is evidence that Islamists linked to the new Syrian government have launched brutal assaults. Although these attacks have not specifically targeted churches, the wider Christian community now fears that they could be next.

Adi Oweis, who previously lived in Damascus until 2009, recounted his anguish as he followed the developments. “It freaked us out. We couldn’t sleep. It was an excruciating few days,” he said. Although channels in Syria confirmed the deaths of ten Christians, Oweis stressed that these fatalities were not due to a deliberate targeting of the Christian community. “They see us as infidels, as people who don’t believe in what they believe in. At the same time, they don’t see us as people who persecuted them in the past,” he explained.

The violence marks the worst incident since the December ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad. Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as al-Golani, led the Sunni movement to overthrow Assad and now serves as Syria’s interim president. His past ties to extremist groups and his reliance on a coalition that includes radical jihadist fighters from abroad have raised alarms among religious minorities.

Nina Shea, director of the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute, warned that the current climate leaves no restraints for protecting religious minorities. “It’s open season on them,” Shea declared, underscoring the vulnerability of Christians alongside other minority groups such as Alawites, Kurds, and Druze.

Beyond the immediate casualties, targeted theft and looting have added to the community’s distress. Oweis recounted how jihadists stormed the home of a friend, sparing his life only upon discovering his Christian identity, yet stealing his car and valuables. The threat of property loss, coupled with the inability to defend themselves, has many Syrian Christians wondering if a full-scale targeting might be imminent.

Despite the prevailing fear, many Christians are choosing to remain in Syria, maintaining a low profile and clinging to the hope of peaceful coexistence. However, as revenge killings and sporadic attacks continue, the future of the Christian community hangs in the balance. Oweis summed up the sentiment: “For Christians, fighting in an armed manner or resisting them is almost impossible, and it could result in a genocide for the Christian population.”

In response to the escalating violence, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the attacks, urging the Syrian government to bring perpetrators to justice. Meanwhile, interim President al-Sharaa has promised an independent investigation into the killings, declaring, “No one will be above the law, and all those whose hands are stained with Syrian blood will face justice—fairly and without delay.”

As Syria remains embroiled in complex sectarian strife, the Christian community—and indeed all Syrians—face an uncertain future, with many praying for a pause in the bloodshed that might open a window for reconciliation and lasting peace.