Catholic leaders in Syria fear more suffering for their people amid Gaza conflict tensions

By Linda Bordoni

Archbishop Samir Nassar has expressed fear a deadly Israeli strike on the Iranian embassy in Damascus risks worsening the situation for Syrians who continue to face enormous and growing needs.

In an interview with AsiaNews, the Maronite Archbishop of Aleppo described the situation in Syria as a forgotten reality where "people are constantly searching for a piece of bread, fuel, all kinds of medicine to solve even the smallest problem."

An Israeli raid on the Iranian consulate building in Damascus on Monday killed 13 people, including seven Iranians and six Syrian citizens. It reportedly targeted Iranian General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, commander of the Quds special forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, and his deputy Mohammad Hadi Hajriahimi. Israel accuses them of supplying weapons to Hezbollah militias in Lebanon.

Concern for escalation of Middle East conflict

The attack and Iran's Supreme Leader’s vow to “punish” Israel for the strike have raised concern that the war in Gaza threatens to escalate major conflict across the region.

Amongst those sounding the alarm, UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, called on "all concerned to exercise utmost restraint and avoid further escalation."

In the weeks before Monday’s raid in Damascus, " Israel reportedly struck targets in the north of Syria, where the Apostolic Vicar of Aleppo told AsiaNews some 35 people were killed in an attack.

Syria's 'forgotten' conflict

Bishop Hanna Jallouf, appointed Apostolic Vicar of Aleppo in July 2023, was at pains to thank Pope Francis for having reminded the international community of the ongoing conflict in Syria, “a conflict that has been going on for over 13 years and is mostly forgotten", he said, as emphasized by Pope Francis on Easter Sunday. 

"Indeed, after all these years the world seems to have forgotten Syria, but there is still a war here, and to this are added the devastations caused by the earthquake [of February 6, 2023]. We thank the pontiff for bringing attention back to Syria, so that peace and prosperity may return," Bishop Jallouf added.

And commenting on the strike on the Iranian embassy compound, he said "Now there is much more fear because it is the first time that Israel has attacked a foreign embassy, territory by definition protected by international conventions, surpassing all red lines. The fear is that it will continue, triggering even more serious reactions and consequences.”

"Let us pray, with the Pope," the Bishop concluded, "that the weapons be silenced and there is no escalation that also overwhelms Lebanon and, cascading, leads to a regional and global war."