Syria: Bullet narrowly misses priest during shooting in Christian village

Image of deadly attack at Greek Orthodox Church of St Elias in Damascus, June 2025 © ACN

An Orthodox priest narrowly escaped being shot after armed men opened fire during an outbreak of violence in a Christian village in western Syria.

Violence broke out on the night of 3rd October following an altercation between young people from the Christian village of Al-Suqaylabiyah and the neighbouring Muslim village of Al-Qalaa (also known as Qalaat Al-Madiq) .

Local sources told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) the dispute subsequently escalated when armed men from the neighbouring Sunni-majority village entered Al-Suqaylabiyah, firing at houses and damaging property.

The priest, who cannot be named for security reasons, told ACN that shots were fired at him and at his vehicle. A bullet narrowly missed him, but he escaped unharmed.

Following the incident, Al-Suqaylabiyah's Greek-Orthodox parish priest Father Fadi Sankari, appealed for "security, justice and accountability, not vendettas", while urging the Christian community not to be drawn into further violence.

He said: "No one has the right to enter your homes or threaten your safety and dignity… Be brave yet wise, stand united but do not be drawn into violence. Spilled blood restores no homes and secures no future."

The incident is the second outbreak of violence in Al-Suqaylabiyah in just over six months. At the end of March, a similar altercation occurred when a group of men entered the village at night and attacked shops, businesses and residents. Security forces were eventually called in and order was restored.

ACN continues to follow the situation closely through its local Church partners and has asked for prayers for peace and security in Syria.

With thanks to María Lozano and Filipe d'Avillez

LINK

Aid to the Church in Need: https://acnuk.org