Brussels: The European Syriac Union (ESU) has issued a heartfelt appeal to the international community, calling for immediate measures to protect Syria’s Christian communities before it is too late. The appeal comes amid growing concerns over targeted attacks on Christians in southern Syria, particularly in areas controlled by militant groups such as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

The ESU highlighted the recent killing of Maher Shaker Qablan, a young Christian man in Tibneh, Daraa, as a stark reminder of the dangers facing these communities. Such attacks, the union warned, are part of a disturbing trend aimed at driving Christians from their ancestral lands.

In its statement, the ESU urged international authorities to take swift action by deploying monitoring missions in southern Syria, launching independent investigations to hold perpetrators accountable, and pressuring local actors to halt attacks.

The union stressed that these measures are essential to ensure that Christians can continue living in their historic homelands safely and with dignity.

Syria’s Christian communities, particularly the Syriacs (Chaldeans, Assyrians, and Arameans), are among the oldest cultural and religious foundations of the Levant. Since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict in 2011, their numbers have dramatically declined due to assassinations, forced displacement, and the destruction of churches.

The ESU warned that without immediate intervention, these ancient communities risk disappearing entirely from the lands they have called home for centuries. The union’s urgent appeal is a call to the world to protect Syria’s indigenous heritage and safeguard its remaining Christian population.