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By Arlene Bridges Samuels

Syria’s summer turned deadly for the Christian community in Damascus. On Sunday, June 22, a suicide bomber, driven by hatred and warped ideology, opened fire on the historic congregation of Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church. As the faithful gathered in prayer, the attacker unleashed his violence, and then triggered the explosives strapped to his chest. The brutal assault claimed the lives of 25 worshipers and left 63 others wounded, shattering a sanctuary that held 350 people in solemn worship.

Just weeks later, on July 16, a targeted act of brutality took the life of Pastor Khaled Mazher, a resident of Sweida in southern Syria. The violence did not end with him. Jihadist militants went on to slaughter his entire extended family—20 Druze followers of Jesus—including his siblings, children, and parents. An entire household of believers was erased in a single, merciless attack.

Devastated by the massacre, members of Pastor Khalid’s congregation at Good Shepherd Evangelical Church fled their homes in fear and anguish. Many have found temporary refuge with local Orthodox and Catholic Christians, who have opened their arms and doors despite already being stretched thin. These courageous friends are doing all they can—but they are overwhelmed and urgently need support.

But first, some context.

The latest wave of violence began when members of a Bedouin tribe in Sweida set up an illegal checkpoint and assaulted a Druze man, robbing him and setting off a chain of retaliatory attacks and kidnappings. Tensions quickly escalated, unleashing a reign of terror against the Druze community. Within a single week, jihadist forces brutally murdered 1,265 Druze civilians.

The perpetrators include extremist Bedouin militias now aligned with Syria’s new president—formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani. Once a prominent figure within Al-Qaeda and ISIS, he now goes by Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, presenting himself in a Western suit and tie in a calculated charm offensive. Despite his violent past, the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and France appear to show little skepticism or restraint in dealing with him.

In an interview with Jonathan Conricus, Israeli Druze attorney and advocate Anan Kheir described the assault in stark terms. He reported that “a thousand Jolani soldiers entered in and committed atrocities,” labeling the events as “ethnic cleansing.” He underscored that Jolani’s Islamist militia views the Druze as infidels—targets for elimination.

Here is a brief overview of the Druze community. This unique religious and ethnic group traces its origins back over a thousand years. Today, fewer than one million Druze live primarily in four Middle Eastern countries: Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. While they speak Arabic, their dialect and cultural identity set them apart from other Arabic-speaking communities.

The Druze faith is highly secretive and deeply spiritual, blending elements from various religious traditions. Their beliefs honor Jesus and the Virgin Mary, while also venerating Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, as a central prophetic figure and spiritual patriarch.

When I began writing my column early this morning, I felt prompted and perhaps even divinely nudged to reach out to my friend Daryl Hedding, chief operating officer of the Shai Fund. This Christian non-profit organization—“shai” means “gift” in Hebrew—serves vulnerable populations in high-risk environments around the world. In Syria, the Shai Fund has earned a strong reputation for its compassionate and effective work among religious and ethnic minorities, including Christians, Druze, Kurds, and Yezidis.

I asked Daryl whether the Shai Fund was mobilizing to assist the besieged Christian community in Sweida. He replied, “In June, Shai aided the Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus just 36 hours after the Christian murders.” He added, “We coordinate with trusted local partners to distribute immediate aid. Then we follow up with support for expanded needs like medical care and funeral costs.”

I was overwhelmed with gratitude. What I believe was a Spirit-led prompting had opened a channel of response. Daryl immediately began contacting his network in Sweida. Moments later, a message arrived from one of those connections: a member of the late Pastor Khalid Mazher’s Good Shepherd Evangelical Church. The message carried an urgent headline:

“Christian Communities Call for International Protection.”

It continued: “Orthodox and Catholic Christians in Sweida have become a refuge for most of the displaced. The churches are overflowing, well beyond their capacity. The Catholic Church has issued a multilingual statement in English, German, French, and Arabic.” Their plea was clear and desperate: A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in our region. Open the humanitarian crossings. Help us end the siege. We remain on this mountain until the very end, asking the Lord for swift relief.

The Shai Fund’s immediate goal is to raise $5,000, an attainable sum that can bring tangible help and hope. By giving, we can become part of the answer to urgent prayers for “swift relief.” My own donation wasn’t large, but whether small or substantial, every gift sends a clear and compassionate message to Syria’s persecuted Christians: you are not forgotten in your suffering.

You can make a gift of any amount here: TheShaiFund.org.

Galatians 6:2 exhorts us to Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.

On Sunday, Israel quietly launched an overnight humanitarian mission to Sweida, delivering first aid kits, food, and medical supplies to support the embattled Syrian Druze community. Remarkably, Israel was the only nation to respond with tangible aid. The operation was carried out by Israeli Air Force helicopters, with additional support already en route.

Israel’s response reflects its deep and enduring commitment to its own Druze population—approximately 150,000 citizens—who share close familial and cultural ties with the Druze in Syria. Israeli Druze are known for their steadfast loyalty to the state. They serve with distinction in the Israel Defense Forces and national police, and many have made meaningful contributions in politics, business, and academia.

On my many trips to Israel, I’ve had the privilege of meeting members of the Druze community, sharing heartfelt conversations, unforgettable experiences, and generous meals offered with their signature warmth and hospitality. The Druze are a remarkable people, and I feel a deep personal bond with them.

This is a time not merely for reflection but for action. While images of the recent atrocities have not surfaced, the descriptions alone are harrowing. On Monday morning, Jonathan Conricus, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), interviewed Israeli Druze attorney Anan Kheir outside Majdal Shams, often considered the informal Druze capital in Israel’s Golan Heights. With visible emotion, Kheir recounted: “We have seen three-month-old babies killed, women raped and then set on fire.” Choking up, he continued, saying he could hardly breathe after witnessing a video of “a man tied to a chair, burned alive in front of his family.”

Anan also shared a WhatsApp exchange with the general manager of Sweida Hospital, a chilling confirmation of the horror unfolding. When asked what was most urgently needed, the GM replied: “The terrorists murdered patients sleeping in their beds. They cut off body parts, tried to kill our staff, and vandalized our equipment. Our hospital can no longer take care of our patients.” Kheir, himself Druze, emphasized the importance of verified sources amid widespread misinformation on social media: “In this age of fake images and recycled footage, personal verification on the ground is critical. The hospital’s GM is a trusted source.”

It is worth remembering that Pastor Khalid Madher, whose murder was part of this wave of violence, was a Druze believer in Jesus. Years ago, he encountered Christ and embraced Him as Savior. Rather than leave his Druze community behind, he chose to remain in Syria, founding the Good Shepherd Evangelical Church under the Assemblies of God, where he faithfully ministered to his people until his death.

Charmaine Hedding, President of the Shai Fund, offers a sobering reflection: “This is a targeted campaign to erase one of Syria’s oldest religious minorities. What is happening in Sweida is a test of whether Syria can become a nation that protects the dignity and rights of all its people. If Syria loses its minorities, it loses its soul. We must act—not only with aid, but with courage, compassion, and resolve.”

Our CBN Israel team welcomes you to join us in prayer for Syrian Christians:

• Pray for massive aid to go quickly and successfully to Syrian Christians.
• Pray with thanks for the strong two-way loyalty between Israeli Jews and Israeli Druze.
• Pray for each Syrian minority: Alawites, Christians, Druze, and Yazidis
• Pray for Syria’s Christians who have lost family members to jihadist terrorists. 
• Pray for wisdom and caution for all leaders meeting with Syrian president Abu Mohammad al-Julani.

Arlene Bridges Samuels is the weekly feature columnist for CBN Israel since 2020. Working on the staff of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) as their SE Regional Outreach Director for nine years, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem USA engaged her as the Leadership Outreach Director part-time for their project American Christian Leaders for Israel. Arlene is an author at The Blogs-Times of Israel, is published at AllIsrael.com and The Jerusalem Connection, and has traveled to Israel since 1990. By invitation, she attends Israel’s Government Press Office Christian Media Summits as part of Christian media worldwide. In 2024, Arlene and her husband Paul co-authored Mental Health Meltdown: Illuminating the Voices of Bipolar and Other Mental Illnesses. www.TheMentalHealthMeltdown.com.