Stephen J. By Bose, Chief International Correspondent of Worthy News
Suqaylabiyah, Syria (meaningful news) – Christians in central Syria faced a tense Easter weekend after their town was targeted by armed Muslim men, with terrified residents watching as church property, homes, shops, a café and cars were damaged, residents said.
Violence broke out in the predominantly Christian town of Suqaylbiyah in Hama province ahead of Palm Sunday, in what locals described as the latest attack against Syria’s Christian minority.
A resident named George M. said, “I am writing to you from the ancient city of Seleucia, known today as Suqaylabiyah.”
“Today, in 2026, our streets are once again filled with the smell of blood – echoes of the suffering endured by our grandparents. History is repeating itself before our eyes,” he said in comments monitored by Worthy News.
There was confusion as to what triggered the violence.
young muslim men
Some residents said the unrest began when two young Muslim men allegedly harassed a Christian girl but were stopped by local Christian men.
Others said the clashes occurred after a dispute between two Muslim men which quickly escalated into widespread communal violence.
It was not immediately clear whether these accounts referred to the same incident.
Soon after, several men on motorcycles from nearby Sunni-Muslim-dominated areas stormed the town, targeting Christian-owned property, witnesses said.
A video obtained by Worthy News shows an elderly Christian shop owner sitting helplessly as masked gunmen looted and destroyed his shop, smashing bottles and goods.
shooting on the streets
Elsewhere, residents reported shooting, looting, and the destruction of religious symbols, including a statue of the Virgin Mary.
“We went through a state of terror, fear and panic,” said a shop owner, whose business suffered huge losses. Video footage seen by Worthy News also shows a Christian-owned café being destroyed, with furious people breaking bottles, furniture and a flat-screen television.
There were no immediately confirmed reports of casualties, although the attacks reportedly continued for several hours into the night. The reports of kidnapping could not be confirmed.
Government forces later deployed reinforcements, restoring the fragile peace.
However, anger among residents remained high.
Worthy News learned through video footage that Christians and their supporters took to the streets demanding accountability, compensation and safety, while some called for a strike until those responsible were punished.
push easter back
Church leaders reportedly responded by reducing Easter celebrations due to safety concerns, and limiting prayers inside churches.
The attack comes amid growing concerns over the safety of minorities following the fall of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in 2024.
Members of the Christian, Druze and Alawite communities have reported increased violence from armed groups in parts of the country.
Syria’s interim authorities have condemned attacks on minorities, but critics say they are either unable or unwilling to fully control militant groups.
Before the civil war began in 2011, Christians made up about 10 percent of Syria’s population of about 23 million.
Since then, thousands have fled amid violence that has left an estimated half a million dead and millions displaced.
High in harassment rankings
Today, one of the world’s oldest Christian communities faces an uncertain future.
According to the Open Doors World Watch List, Syria ranks 12th among the countries where Christians face the most persecution.
Advocacy groups have warned that Christian communities remain at risk from ongoing instability and growing Islamic influence.
In his appeal, the Suqailabiyah resident urged the international community not to ignore his plight.
“There was a time when the world didn’t see what was happening to us. But today there are no excuses. You can see it with your own eyes,” George M wrote on social media platform X.
“We ask you: do not abandon us.”
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