In a week of clashes between Druze, Bedouins and government forces, over a thousand civilians and combatants were killed, including Christian families and the Druze evangelical pastor Khalid Mezheri. The Latin Church and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate are calling for urgent intervention by the international community and denouncing the role of militias that still escape Damascus' control and external interference. L'Œuvre d'Orient reports hundreds of displaced persons without food or water. Apostolic Vicar of Aleppo Hanna Jallouf: ‘Only dialogue can save Syria.’
This afternoon, the funerals of the victims of the massacre were presided over by Greek Orthodox Patriarch John X Yazigi. The Christian community is still in shock, entire families decimated. Syrian authorities have arrested six people linked to the attack and promise justice. But the climate of mistrust remains and the desire to flee in a ‘security vacuum’ is growing.
The government blames the Islamic State group for yesterday’s attack that left dozens of Christian dead, but amid the uncertainty no one has yet claimed responsibility. A source spoke to AsiaNews complaining that the authorities are busy implementing the Sharia and signing deals with Qatar and Turkey rather than “building a real nation”. Father Jihad (Mar Musa) warns against falling into the trap of attacking the country’s reconstruction work. The Ordinaries of the Holy Land slammed the “barbaric act” that caused “profound shock and deep revulsion”.
Developed by Iran for 20 years as a deterrent, the "Axis of Resistance" is keeping a low profile in this war. From the Iraqi prime minister to the religious leader al-Sadr, the order is to "silence" the "reckless voices" that want to start a war. At least 20 Muslim and Arab nations sign a statement for a nuclear-free Middle East "without exceptions" (a reference to Israel).
On the eve of the Eid al-Adha holiday, Israel launched one of its most impressive attacks. Aoun tried in vain to stop the military operation while Israel’s Defence Minister issued new threats. Hezbollah is using Iranian-style "slow diplomacy". Impatience is growing in Israel over US policies in the region.
Jomana Solman, project manager for the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre, told AsiaNews that no remains have been found where the Italian priest was abducted in 2013. The organisation continues to work on mass graves in northeastern Syria, but identifying remains is complex and expensive. A recent spate of fake news has fuelled hope among the families of the missing.
