Syria

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)— One of Syria’s most respected church leaders has condemned the destruction of an ancient Catholic monastery by the Islamic State (IS) group and expressed concern that hundreds of kidnapped people, many of them Christians, may have been killed and Chaldean Bishop of Aleppo Antoine Audo spoke hours after news emerged that IS had destroyed the monastery in the Syrian town of Qaryatain dating back to the 5th century after Christ, and is located in central Homs province.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- Some 20 Christians kidnapped by fighters linked to terror group al-Qaida in Syria have been released but their priest remained under house arrest Monday, October 13, awaiting an Islamic court trial, church sources said.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos and local sources DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- Christian aid workers have urged prayers after up to 200 Christians were reportedly killed in sustained bombardments of Syria's northern city of Aleppo, as the country's civil war enters its sixth year.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- At least four people were killed when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives in a Christian area of the Syrian capital Friday, June 28,  amid warnings from investigators that the country's minority Christians are becoming victims of "disproportionate violence and abuse" in a war that has claimed as many as 100,000 lives.

By BosNewsLife Americas Service WASHINGTON, USA (BosNewsLife)-- A key rights official has "praised" a U.S. House of Representatives resolution for the creation of a special diplomatic envoy for religious freedom in the Middle East.

By Joseph DeCaro, BosNewsLife International Correspondent DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- A group supporting persecuted Christians said Thursday, October 13, that Syria's Christian minority is suffering more ever after reports that at least 2,700 people have been killed and thousands more arrested in efforts to overthrow the country's long-time President Bashar al-Assad.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- Leaders of Syria's embattled Christian minority urged prayers Monday, January 20, as prospects for a peace conference in Geneva were thrown into doubt after the opposition threatened to withdraw from the planned talks. The Syrian Opposition Coalition, which had only voted to attend the day before, said it was suspending its decision because the United Nations unexpectedly invited Iran to the January 22 conference, also known as 'Geneva II'.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos DAMASCUS/BEIRUT (BosNewsLife)-- Syrian Christian leaders and aid workers warned the West on Wednesday, August 28, that a planned military action against their country's government "would be disastrous" with "unintended consequences" for the already endangered Christian community.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with additional reporting by Philippa Hitchen in Vatican City and Stefan J. Bos DAMASCUS/VATICAN CITY (BosNewsLife)-- The Vatican and aid workers have urged the world to help end an "apocalyptic" bombing campaign in Syria where "thousands of families" live in underground shelters and "millions of children" are malnourished.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)— Fighters of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group have released another 37 Assyrian Christians who had been kidnapped nine months ago, but hundreds of other Christian hostages remain detained, Christians confirmed Friday, November 20.