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Urgent: Christians on lockdown as fighting rages

Friends, in the past, we’ve asked for prayer for Christians in the city of Qamishli, in northern Syria. Christians there have endured so much—they were surrounded by ISIS during the Syrian Civil War, and they’ve endured regular unrest thanks to insurgent groups and during the Turkish invasion in the fall of 2019.

And now, Christians there have asked for urgent prayer around a new crisis. On April 20, fighting broke out less than a mile from the neighborhood where most Christians in Qamishli live. One of our sources from Qamishli reports: “The war between Kurdish militia and the National Defense Forces [linked to the Syrian government] began last night and is still going on. Kurdish militia want to take control of the al-Tai neighborhood using heavy weapons and artillery. We haven’t slept since yesterday, but we’re fine. We are about 1 kilometer [a little more than half a mile] from the war site.”

He asks Christians “Please pray for us.”

Pastor George Moushi—one of our partners, who runs a Center of Hope in Qamishli—confirms the news. “A violent fight broke out last night ... There were fatalities on both sides; the firing was going on all night with only occasional short periods [of] quiet. A few church members live near the fighting. Everyone is fine, but they are in real danger of random shooting. I asked my church members to stay at home and not leave for any reason. They are now in their houses and praying for peace. Please pray for us, that God will intervene and calm the situation.”

Open Doors partners are watching and monitoring the situation closely. They are preparing to provide shelter and basic needs to Christians if they become displaced because of the fighting.

Ask God to intervene and for peace to come to Qamishli and the surrounding areas.

Pray Pastor George and other leaders have wisdom in how to lead the people and be examples of Christ’s love during these dangerous and unstable times.

Pray the church in Syria would be strengthened and protected.

Syria and Iraq are still recovering from ISIS and war—Christians left the countries in droves, and many haven’t returned. We are standing with our brothers and sisters in our seven-year campaign aimed to restore hope to the church in the Middle East. To learn more, click here.

Photo: Pastor George praying for peace during the conflict in October 2019.