First, under Fox: Under the Islamic rule of the new regime led by Ahmed Al-Sharaa, the increasing number of violent attacks and killings in Syria put the country’s Christian communities on the edge, and many feared their future.
“The situation for Christians in Syria has reached a critical threshold, and I think they are shaking on the brink of disaster,” Jeff King, president of International Christian attention, told Fox News Digital.
“The jihad storms started to rain on them, so how long can faith last?” King added.
Although Kim’s organization has been actively helping Christians persecuted in Syria and globally for years, a group of Syrian Christians in the country’s capital, known as Antioch’s Eagles, worked together to defend their community and religious identities, which came after the fall of former Syrian dictators Bashar al Assad.
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Antioch in Damascus protests against the Eagles after extremists burn a Christmas tree. (Antioch’s Eagle)
The importance of the organization is even more important given the attacks by Islamic extremists earlier this month that resulted in hundreds of a minority of Alavi communities and several Christians targeted due to their faith.
The Antioch Eagles is a volunteer organization of about 500 volunteers operating within three major Christian communities in Damascus. They watch Christian areas from dusk to dawn, patrol the streets and protect Christian shrines from attacks.
Danial Georgios, a construction engineer living in Damascus, talks specifically with Fox News Digital about the group’s Damascus community. Georgios, 30, and his Antioch Hawks hope to fill the safety gap until tensions ease.
“We want to be represented. We no longer accept the idea of being marginalized or being considered second-class citizens,” he told Fox News Digital.
He added: “We look at ourselves, we are the same as Muslims, the Alavis and every Syrian citizen.”
The group’s name comes from the ancient city of Antioch, reflecting their deep-rooted connection to Antioch cheese. Members come from three main Christian sects: Antioch Greek Orthodox, Antiochites Melkit Catholics and Antiochites Syrian Orthodox.
Members of the group patrol the community and protect Christian holy sites, including shrines, symbols and churches. If a location damages or destroys the organization, the organization will repair itself in hopes of avoiding escalation into a sectarian conflict between the Christian community and its Sunni neighbors.
They advocate a system based on strong municipalities or extreme local governance, allowing Christians throughout Syria to manage their affairs and celebrate their religious festivals without fear of persecution. Antioch’s Eagles Band (Antioch) said that since the emerging era, the organization has successfully protected liquor stores, churches, shrines and residences from theft and vandalism.
George and his peers were inspired to act in December after Al Sqailbiyyah caught fire Hama. According to Georges, radical jihadists are causing wilful destruction. After the incident, he and his Christians organized a large-scale peaceful protest within Damascus and chanted the equal rights of all Syrians.
Christians gather at the Saydnaya Monastery in Saydnaya, Syria on December 24, 2024. Christians in the new self-liberated Syria are celebrating Christmas, but may face an uncertain future after the assad regime overthrows. Christian Syrians fear that a new Islamic government could marginalize ethnic minority communities. (Ali Haj Suleiman/Getty Images)
“We want internal regulation to be regulated to our region,” Georges said. However, he stressed that any action taken is related to HTS Government And it will not affect Syria’s sovereignty or challenge its rule.
Even if HTS is able to provide full security in other minority communities across Damascus and Syria, George Os said the group will not disband if the political transition continues, but will open to join state-funded local police forces under HTS’ authorization.
“We want to be represented, and we no longer accept the idea of being marginalized or treated as second-class citizens. We look at ourselves, we are equal to Muslims, Alavets and every Syrian citizen,” Georges said.
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Since Assad fell HTS is in powerGeorgios claims that most of the attacks on Christian communities were carried out by foreign factions or militants and were not recognized by the government.
Despite reports and allegations that HTS members have been targeting Christians, he claimed: “It’s not HTS at all, and HTS tries to avoid any conflict with Christians. HTS is now a country and we as Christians try to support stability,” Georgios asserted.
Syrian families fleeing the Syrian conflict crossed Heker al-Daher, a northern village in Akka Province, Lebanon, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
HTS agrees Targeting religious minorities On the lightning road where they seized Damascus and collapsed Assad. The organization assured the communities they control that they will allow religious minorities to coexist peacefully and will not target their beliefs.
However, the King’s organization was not full of hope. “The environment has been unstable at best since HTS overthrew the Assad regime in December 2024. However, the bloodshed in Latakia from March 6 to 10 represents a fearful escalation. According to Syrian observers, the violence is the violence that has claimed more than 1,540 people have taken over the lives of more than 1,540 people, and the evidence of cases of the Firstians of the Firsties of the Firsties of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts of the Firsts
He continued: “Although HTS has not implemented an official anti-Christian policy (they have to carefully consider public perception when consolidating control), certain factions and individual combatants are already targeting Christians with violence.”
Abu Mohamed Al-Jolani, head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadist group, examined losses after the earthquake occurred in the village of Besnaya on the border between Russia and Turkey in Syria on February 7, 2023. (Omar Haj Kadour/AFP via Getty Images)
Kim’s organization pointed out Article 3 declares that the new Syrian provisional constitution “the religion of the president of the Republic is Islam” and that “Islamic jurisprudence is the main source of legislation.” “This language is slightly more distinct than the previous constitution of Syria, which merely uses Islamic law as a source,” the group said.
The International Christian Concern (ICC) also pointed out that the Provisional Constitution also guarantees the protection of “all sacred religions.” The ICC wrote that the document “appears to indicate the government’s intention to tolerate Christians and other religious minorities.”
According to Antioch’s Antioch, there are some encouraging signs that they coordinate closely with the HTS in Damascus, benefiting from the presence of educated HTS fighters in the city. This collaboration ensures that Islamic rules are not imposed on Christian communities. Together HTS PoliceThey are committed to preventing crime and maintaining security and harmony within these communities.
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In December 2024, Antioch protests in Damascus saw wooden crosses and Syrian flags. (Antioch’s Eagle)
Some volunteers have weapons licensed and approved by HTS officials. They communicate and coordinate with them and provide information about the people who commit crimes.
“Despite some positive signs, Syria’s Christian population has experienced a devastating decline, now falling from 1.5 million before the conflict to between 300,000 and 500,000 now. There is a permanent state of anxiety in the community, the door is locked, and nervously awaiting this situation to worsen further,” King said.
