Syria
Father Nicola Waqas Khoury of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Bosra-Hauran and Jabal al-Arab speaking in a video message on July 23, 2025. Photo: screengrab/submitted
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Greek Orthodox Church in Syria on Wednesday rejected reports that Christians are being forced to flee Suwayda province amid weeks of sectarian violence, insisting that the community remains in the area despite the conflict.
“Today a false news is being spread… that the Christians were forcefully made to leave al-Suwayda,” said Father Nicola Waqas Khoury of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Bosra-Hauran and Jabal al-Arab, adding that they remain in their lands
There have been ongoing reports that Christians in Suwayda province are migrating amid fighting between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes that erupted on July 13, leading to a regional crisis as Israel intervened in support of the Druze, striking several targets, including Syrian state forces and the defense ministry building in Damascus.
At least 1,300 people have been killed in the violence in Suwayda, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The Observatory also reported on Wednesday that the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Bosra-Hauran and Jabal al-Arab denied the reports of displacement, affirming that they are staying.
"Some people left the province who have humanitarian conditions or who have diseases,” it said, adding that “this does not mean that the Christians are migrating.”
A ceasefire between Israel and Syria - brokered by Washington - was announced Saturday by the US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack and appears to be holding.
While Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has pledged to form an “inclusive transitional government that would reflect Syria’s diversity,” he continues to face domestic and international criticism over his perceived marginalization of minority communities.
“Today a false news is being spread… that the Christians were forcefully made to leave al-Suwayda,” said Father Nicola Waqas Khoury of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Bosra-Hauran and Jabal al-Arab, adding that they remain in their lands
There have been ongoing reports that Christians in Suwayda province are migrating amid fighting between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes that erupted on July 13, leading to a regional crisis as Israel intervened in support of the Druze, striking several targets, including Syrian state forces and the defense ministry building in Damascus.
At least 1,300 people have been killed in the violence in Suwayda, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The Observatory also reported on Wednesday that the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Bosra-Hauran and Jabal al-Arab denied the reports of displacement, affirming that they are staying.
"Some people left the province who have humanitarian conditions or who have diseases,” it said, adding that “this does not mean that the Christians are migrating.”
A ceasefire between Israel and Syria - brokered by Washington - was announced Saturday by the US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack and appears to be holding.
While Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has pledged to form an “inclusive transitional government that would reflect Syria’s diversity,” he continues to face domestic and international criticism over his perceived marginalization of minority communities.
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