Syria

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- Muslim rebels linked to terror group al-Qaida are forcing Christians in a besieged historic Christian town to convert to Islam or face death, residents confirmed Wednesday, September 11.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- Rebels linked to terror group al-Qaida captured the Christian town of Maaloula on Sunday, September 8, as part of a campaign to take control of strategic mountains near the capital Damascus, opposition representatives said.

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 BAGHDAD, IRAQ (BosNewsLife)-- An influential Anglican leader in Iraq said Saturday, August 24, he was thinking of the Bible's warning not to be alarmed amid warfare as dozens of people were killed nearby in the capital Baghdad, while neighboring Syria was rocked by apparently new chemical weapons attack revelations.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- Suspected Islamic gunmen shot dead at least 11 people, mostly Christians, in central Syria on Saturday, August 17, in what local residents and activists said was the latest in a series of attacks on the country's Christian minority.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- Mourning Christians in Syria were still awaiting answers Monday, July 8, as to why Islamic militants with links to opposition rebels entered Christian villages more than a month ago killing several people, including children, in what locals called a "massacre".

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with additional reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- A Catholic priest has been publicly beheaded by suspected Islamic militants in northern Syria after accusations of collaborating with President Bashar Assad's government, BosNewsLife established Tuesday, July 2.

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 Middle East Service DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- Christians in war-torn Syria have marked one month since the kidnapping of two bishops near the Turkish border with a new appeal for their release, amid mounting concerns about the leaders' safety and health.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- Two Syrian Orthodox bishops remained missing Wednesday, April 24, after they were kidnapped by suspected Islamic gunmen who also killed their driver, church officials and local Christians said.