Urgent Crisis: The Genocide of Christians and Minorities in Syria by Al-Sharaa’s Islamist Regime
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, Syria has descended into a new nightmare for its religious and ethnic minorities. The interim government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa (also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani), a former al-Qaeda affiliate and leader of the U.S.-designated terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has unleashed a wave of sectarian violence targeting Christians, Alawites, and Druze communities. This brutality, reminiscent of the Islamic State’s (ISIS) genocidal campaigns, has claimed thousands of lives, yet it has been met with deafening silence from Western leaders and media. While the UK and Europe have funnelled funds to this Islamist regime, and President Donald Trump has largely ignored the crisis, the mainstream media remains fixated on unverified claims of genocide in Gaza, ignoring the very real atrocities unfolding in Syria. It is time to confront this humanitarian catastrophe head-on and stand with Israel in opposing these jihadist forces.
A Resurgent Islamist Threat
The collapse of Assad’s regime, long a brutal oppressor, was initially met with cautious optimism by some who hoped for a freer Syria. However, the rise of al-Sharaa and HTS has dashed those hopes. Al-Sharaa, once a key figure in al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch, has attempted to rebrand himself as a moderate leader, but his actions tell a different story. Since taking power, HTS-led forces and their allies, including Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) factions, have engaged in systematic attacks on Syria’s minorities, echoing the genocidal tactics of ISIS, which targeted Christians, Yazidis, and others from 2014 to 2019.
In March 2025, over 1,500 Alawite civilians were massacred in Syria’s coastal northwest, particularly in Latakia and Jableh, following clashes with pro-Assad insurgents. Reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) indicate that HTS-affiliated militias, alongside SNA groups like Jaish al-Sharqiya and the Hamzah Division, carried out summary executions and mass killings. Christians in areas like Bab Toma in Damascus have faced daily attacks, with social media posts documenting Islamist extremists storming Christian neighbourhoods to impose Sharia law by force. The Druze in Suweida have also suffered, with over 1,100 deaths reported in sectarian clashes in July 2025, where government forces and allied militias were accused of atrocities against civilians.
These acts bear the hallmarks of genocide, defined under international law as the deliberate intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. The targeted killings of Christians, Alawites, and Druze, coupled with the destruction of their places of worship and communities, fit this grim criterion. Yet, the international response has been woefully inadequate.
Western Complicity: UK and EU Funding
Shockingly, the UK and European Union have provided financial support to al-Sharaa’s regime, despite its terrorist designation and documented human rights abuses. In January 2025, EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness, and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, announced a €235 million “humanitarian assistance package” to Syria, effectively bolstering al-Sharaa’s government. The UK, alongside France and Germany, has participated in diplomatic engagements, with foreign ministers visiting Damascus to pledge support for reconstruction and recovery. These funds, intended for humanitarian aid, risk being diverted to HTS’s military and administrative apparatus, as the group has a history of controlling resources in Idlib through its Syrian Salvation Government (SSG).
This financial backing is not only misguided but dangerous. Al-Sharaa’s HTS remains a terrorist organisation, designated as such by the UN, US, UK, and EU. Its governance in Idlib was marked by authoritarianism, with dissent suppressed and critics silenced. The EU and UK’s willingness to engage with al-Sharaa ignores his jihadist past and the ongoing atrocities committed under his watch. Former Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has condemned this approach, warning that funding al-Sharaa’s regime fuels “neo-Ottoman-inspired” massacres and risks turning Syria into a jihadist haven.
Trump’s Silence and Missed Opportunities
President Donald Trump’s response to the Syrian crisis has been equally troubling. In May 2025, Trump met al-Sharaa in Riyadh, praising him as a “tough guy” with “potential” and lifting U.S. sanctions on Syria. This move, influenced by Saudi Arabia and Turkey, ignored al-Sharaa’s terrorist history and the ongoing violence against minorities. Trump’s administration has shown little interest in addressing the plight of Christians, Alawites, and Druze, focusing instead on broader geopolitical deals, such as pushing Syria to join the Abraham Accords for normalisation with Israel. While Trump’s first term saw efforts to combat ISIS, his current policy appears to overlook the resurgence of jihadist violence in Syria, leaving vulnerable communities without protection or advocacy.
The U.S. withdrawal of its small but effective troop presence in eastern Syria, reported in March 2025, further weakens efforts to counter ISIS remnants and monitor HTS’s actions. This retreat risks allowing Syria to become a safe haven for terrorist groups once again, a concern echoed by analysts like Aaron Zelin of The Washington Institute.
The Media’s Selective Outrage
The mainstream media’s silence on Syria’s genocide is starkly contrasted by its relentless focus on Gaza. While unverified claims of genocide in Gaza dominate headlines, the documented massacres of Christians, Alawites, and Druze in Syria receive scant attention. This selective outrage reflects a broader bias in Western media, which often amplifies narratives aligned with progressive ideologies while ignoring inconvenient truths. The destruction of Christian communities in Bab Toma, the execution of Alawites in Latakia, and the slaughter of Druze in Suweida are barely reported, allowing al-Sharaa’s regime to operate with impunity.
For example, in January 2025, videos surfaced of Shadi al-Waisi, al-Sharaa’s appointed Minister of Justice, overseeing public executions of women to enforce Sharia law. These barbaric acts, widely shared on social media, were largely ignored by major outlets like the BBC and CNN, which instead focused on Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. This double standard undermines the credibility of the media and leaves Syrian minorities without a voice.
Standing with Israel Against Jihadism
Israel has been one of the few nations to take decisive action against the Islamist threat in Syria. Since December 2024, Israel has conducted airstrikes on Syrian military targets, including the Ministry of Defence in Damascus, to prevent weapons from falling into HTS’s hands. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has positioned Israel as a protector of minorities, particularly the Druze, and has warned against Syria becoming a “terror stronghold.” Israel’s concerns are well-founded, given HTS’s jihadist roots and the presence of foreign fighters in its ranks.
The West should take a cue from Israel and adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward Islamist terrorism. Rather than funding al-Sharaa’s regime, the UK, EU, and U.S. should impose stricter sanctions and support Israel’s efforts to neutralise jihadist threats. Aligning with Israel, which shares borders with Syria and faces direct security risks, is not only strategic but morally imperative. The Abraham Accords, which Trump has pushed al-Sharaa to join, could be a framework for regional stability, but only if Syria’s new leadership renounces terrorism and protects its minorities.
A Call to Action
The genocide of Christians, Alawites, and Druze in Syria demands urgent attention. These Syrian minorities are the people in genuine need of asylum, not the illegal economic migrants flooding our borders on a daily basis. The international community must hold al-Sharaa’s regime accountable and cease all financial and diplomatic support. The UK and EU should redirect their aid to create safe havens for persecuted minorities, as suggested by Greek MEP Emmanouil Fragkos, who has called for a European Arrest Warrant against al-Sharaa and HTS. The U.S. must reverse its disengagement and prioritise counterterrorism efforts to prevent Syria from becoming another jihadist hub.
Raising awareness is critical. The silence of the mainstream media must be challenged, and the stories of Syria’s minorities must be amplified. Patriarch John X of Antioch, leader of the Greek Orthodox Church, has called for dialogue with al-Sharaa’s government, but his pleas have gone unanswered. The West must pressure al-Sharaa to engage with minority leaders and ensure their safety.
The world cannot stand idly by as another genocide unfolds. Syria’s Christians, Alawites, and Druze deserve protection, and the Islamist threat must be confronted with resolve. By standing with Israel and rejecting deals with terrorists, the West can help end this cycle of violence and bring justice to Syria’s forgotten victims.
And make no mistake, If we fail to act now, the rise of Islamist dominance could soon bring similar atrocities to the Western world too.
