A member of Syria’s Internal Security Forces sits on a vehicle parked outside a church in the predominantly Christian town of Al-Suqaylabiyah, west of Hama, Syria, on March 28, 2026, following overnight violence. [Omar Albam/AP]
Athens moved swiftly and forcefully to ensure that the protection of Christian populations in the Middle East remains on the international agenda, following an outbreak of violence on March 28 in the central Syrian town of Suqaylabiyah, in Hama province.
The town, predominantly Greek Orthodox, saw residents subjected to intimidation, property destruction and threats to their lives, prompting an immediate response from the Greek Foreign Ministry.
Through both direct statements and a network of diplomatic channels, including those linking Syria’s interim authorities with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Athens conveyed a clear message: safeguarding the rights of Syria’s Christian population is an integral part of any peaceful transition from the Assad family’s rule to a new political order. Greek officials emphasized that Syrian Christians are not a minority in the national sense but indigenous inhabitants of the country.
The events in Suqaylabiyah, reportedly sparked by a dispute between a Christian resident and a Sunni Muslim from a neighboring town, gained wider attention after coverage by major international news agencies. This visibility enabled Athens to intervene more openly. Diplomatic sources note that in Syria, where the Christian population has fallen from more than 1 million to an estimated 200,000, even localized disputes can escalate into broader violence involving organized militias not fully under the control of the government of Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The Greek Foreign Ministry reiterated its support for Syria’s recovery while awaiting the findings of an official investigation into the attacks. Sunni militias, however, have not only targeted Christians but also Druze and Alawite communities, groups often regarded by jihadist factions as religious adversaries and formerly associated with the backbone of the Assad-era state.
In Athens, officials view the situation as part of a wider deterioration in regional security. The sharp decline of Christian populations in Syria and Iraq over recent years has been driven largely by jihadist groups, including the Islamic State, which once controlled vast territories. Migration has further reduced these communities, with tens of thousands leaving Syria for North America and Western Europe early in the conflict.
Concern is also mounting over Lebanon, where thousands of Christians have departed in recent years. Despite strong ties with President Joseph Aoun, a Maronite Christian, Lebanon’s fragmented political structure limits the reach of central authority, complicating any external intervention.