News- Middle East: A wave of deadly violence has sparked outrage in a Christian-majority region in Syria’s Homs province after armed men affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al‑Sham (HTS) opened fire on a group of young Christian men.

At least three were killed and several others wounded in Wadi al-Nasara, according to local sources and media reports.

The incident occurred late Wednesday night in Anaz village. Eyewitnesses say masked gunmen wearing uniforms similar to those used by HTS approached a gathering of Christian youths outside a local office and discharged roughly 30 rounds.

The attack ignited a surge of protest in the immediate aftermath. Angry residents erected roadblocks, set fire to HTS checkpoints, and blocked key roads connecting the villages in the valley.

A general strike spread across Wadi al‑Nasara, closing shops and bringing daily life to a halt.

Community members accused HTS of targeting Christians in a bid to force them from their homes and lands, a claim protesters say fits a pattern of escalating harassment and violence.

Calls were made for churches to ring their bells in solidarity and for Christian candidates to withdraw from government-run elections, which many locals repudiated as illegitimate.

The demonstrations reflected deep-seated frustration with what Christian residents described as a breakdown in security and a lack of meaningful protection under the new regime.

Since the fall of President Bashar al‑Assad’s government in December 2024, Syria’s security landscape has shifted dramatically.

Minority communities, especially Christians, Alawites, and the Druze, report increasing fear about their status under HTS rule, citing uncertainty about political and religious freedoms.

While Western media portray Syria’s de facto ruler Abu Mohammed al‑Jolani as more moderate than that of his takfiri peers — including earlier al‑Qaeda linkages — community leaders say little has changed on the ground.

The Christian community in Wadi al‑Nasara in particular remains on edge amid what they describe as sporadic murders, kidnappings, and threats.

Videos circulating online have amplified concerns, including clips reported to show HTS affiliated forces executing unarmed Druze civilians in Sweida province.

Tensions have also been stoked by reports of impending normalization deals between Syria’s new rulers and Israel.

According to unverified sources, the United States has been exploring talks facilitating a meeting between Jolani and Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with diplomatic recognition of Israel and the occupied Golan Heights reportedly part of long‑term discussions.

Critics argue that HTS’s outreach to Western nations has reduced pressure on Israel to limit its military actions, allowing Tel Aviv greater freedom to escalate airstrikes and raids in Syrian territory.

These moves, they say, further endanger minority communities caught in conflict zones.

Accusations of widespread abuse persist. Human rights groups allege that since HTS came to power, thousands have been subjected to arbitrary detention, torture, extrajudicial killing, and enforced disappearances.

Investigations into the killings of minority members remain limited, and witnesses claim perpetrators face little accountability.

Rights groups have documented the violent deaths of nearly 10,000 people in Syria since Jolani was installed as president in Damascus.

They say there has been no accountability for killings carried out by members of HTS-affiliated armed factions.

The violence comes shortly after Jolani traveled to New York to address the UN General Assembly, where he also met US leaders including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.  

Jolani's appearance made him the first de facto Syrian leader to address the assembly in nearly six decades.

For Christians in Wadi al‑Nasara, daily life now carries a heavy toll. The threat of violence, along with economic hardship and displacement pressures, have led many to feel their future is increasingly precarious.

Some local leaders warn that unless conditions improve, the valley’s Christian population may shrink through migration or forced abandonment of homes.

The recent shootings are the latest in a series of violent incidents targeting religious minorities across Syria.

In addition to Christians, Alawite and Druze communities have reported multiple attacks — including church bombings and sectarian clashes — sparking international concern over the safety of vulnerable groups.

Source: Press TV