Hundreds of Christians Killed in Syria Amid Rising Islamist Attacks
In recent days, Syria has been engulfed in a surge of violence that has resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 individuals, including hundreds of Christians. The coastal province of Latakia, predominantly inhabited by Alawites and Christians, has become the epicenter of these brutal attacks.
The escalation began on March 6, 2025, when clashes erupted between Syrian security forces and loyalists of the deposed president Bashar al-Assad in Latakia. The conflict quickly intensified, leading to over 200 fatalities of civilians caught in the crossfire. The violence subsequently spread to neighboring regions, with reports of atrocities such as village stormings and revenge killings. There have also been unverified reports of mass civilian executions.
Among the victims were many Christians targeted in their homes. On March 7, Tony Khoury was reportedly murdered in his residence, and on the same day, jihadist regime terrorists allegedly killed Greek Christians Tony Boutros and his son, Fadi Boutros.
“After seeing the massacres yesterday, all people here are terrified,” a Christian source in Syria told The European Conservative.
The current wave of violence is occurring under the rule of Ahmed al-Sharaa, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group with roots in al-Qaeda. HTS, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, has a history of extremist actions, including the oppression of minority populations in northern Syria. Foreign jihadis associated with HTS have been reported to harass Christian and Druze communities, expropriate their land, and, in some instances, force conversions to Islam or commit killings.
Under al-Sharaa’s regime, religious minorities, including Christians, are experiencing increased persecution. Reports indicate incidents of murders, abductions, arbitrary detentions, property seizures and vandalism against places of worship. The new constitution mandates that the president be Muslim, raising concerns about the tacit support of Islamist persecution of Christians by authorities.
While these reports are alarming, Dr. Martin Parsons, CEO of The Lindisfarne Centre for the Study of Christian Persecution, says it’s essential to approach them with caution. He notes that while some Christians have been killed, it’s unclear whether they were targeted specifically for their faith or caught in broader conflicts.
“We don’t know why they were killed,” Dr. Parsons says. “Were they caught up in it? Were they killed because they were Assad loyalists, or was it a question of them being targeted because of their religion, or both? We just don’t know at the moment.”
The international community has expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in Syria. Human rights organizations are calling for immediate investigations into the reported atrocities and urging the protection of vulnerable communities. There is a growing demand for humanitarian assistance to the affected regions and for diplomatic efforts to stabilize the situation.
The United States has condemned the killings, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio offering condolences and stating that “the United States stands with Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities, including its Christian, Druze, Alawite, and Kurdish communities.” He further emphasized that the “perpetrators of these massacres against Syria’s minority communities” should be held accountable.
For many Syrian Christians, the latest attacks add to years of persecution and displacement, pushing a once-thriving community closer to extinction. Whether the violence stems from religious targeting or the chaos of war, the result is the same—Christians are being driven from their homeland. Without urgent intervention, their future in Syria remains perilous.
