Syria on the brink of civil war: Churches demand immediate peace!

Syria on the brink of civil war: Churches demand immediate peace!

There is a lot of trouble in Syria! The parish priest of Aleppo, Father Bahjat Elia Karakach, is sounding the alarm about the dramatic escalation of violence in the country. Over 1,000 people have been killed in recent days, including 745 civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports. According to Karakach, the Syrians are once again on the brink of civil war, and there is extreme tension, particularly in the volatile regions of al-Suwayda and Jabla. He calls on the international community not to turn its back on Syria. Because while the population lives in fear, the violence does not subside. The latest militia movements, led by the Sunni Haiat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), are questioning the power of the government around Bashar al-Assad and creating bloody chaos, as [kathpress.at] also reports.

The situation is complicated by the influence of international powers. Russia, a decades-long supporter of the regime, initially held back while Israel massively expanded its military activities in southern Syria after the fall of Assad. Israel's continued aggressive strategy underlines that it sees the security of the new Syrian government, which is perceived as Islamist, at risk. In contrast to the ongoing bombings by Israel, Iran, formerly al-Assad's loyal ally, is currently weak. No Iranian delegation visit to Syria has been reported in recent weeks, indicating a significant loss of power, as made clear in [zeit.de] reporting.

Government disputes and disappointed hopes

The interim government under President Ahmed Al-Sharaa is criticized: Despite its promises, real political change is still missing. Embittered voices are now calling for an end to the violence and a return to fair negotiations. “The people here are tired and we no longer know how to encourage them,” says Karakach, commenting on the population's great frustration. In their appeals, church leaders also reiterate the need for national reconciliation and warn against any attempts to divide the country. Their demand for unity and civil rights is the only way to bring an end to the bloody conflicts.