• The greatest pressure lies in Damascus and Aleppo where – despite the cities’ historic Christian presence – growing hostility from conservative Muslim communities and extremist groups brings discrimination and danger. 

• Christians who convert from Islam or Druze beliefs are particularly vulnerable to pressure and persecution from family and community, especially in Muslim-majority areas. 

• Syria has risen 12 places on the World Watch List, largely due to a spike in violence. Syria is now at its most dangerous since so-called Islamic State occupied significant swathes of territory. 

• Since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Christians have waited to see what the impact on the faith community would be – and, despite some promising signs, the situation is now incredibly dangerous. The country has been mostly controlled by forces led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). This is an Islamist extremist group with roots in Al Qaeda. 

• In June 2025, Saint Elias Church in Damascus was bombed. At least 22 people were killed and more than 60 injured – and threats of repeat attacks were later graffitied on other churches in the region. 

• “This bombing wasn’t merely at a Damascus church; it was a blow to the heart of every Syrian Christian who witnessed the brutal martyrdom of their brethren,” says Juliette*, a local Open Doors contact. 

Open Doors local partners in Syria help strengthen believers through Bibles and Christian literature, discipleship training, trauma care, relief aid, microloans and other socioeconomic help.