Please pray as fighting breaks out in Aleppo  

Please pray – at least 12 people have died and thousands are trying to flee after an escalation in fighting in the northern parts of Aleppo, Syria.

Christians in Syria are calling for prayer after a recent escalation in fighting between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian army in Aleppo. At least 15 people have been killed and over 150,000 displaced. 

The conflict broke out last week, with each side accusing the other of sparking hostilities. It centres on the Kurdish-majority neighbourhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh in the northern part of the city, with the Syrian military designating them as ‘closed military areas’.  

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Christians are amongst thousands of people who have fled the affected areas, with some sheltering with friends or family, and others in churches. An Open Doors local partner is assessing the situation and how they can help.  

Seeking refuge 

“My husband is still there; he refused to leave,” one woman said. “I was scared because of my children. In the end, I had no other choice but to leave him and rely on God to protect my family, and that’s why I took refuge in the church. 

“The families are sleeping on the floor in one hall,” she goes on. “The children are sitting in a corner playing with each other, but without any smiles on their faces. The families spent the whole night praying and trying to stay calm.” 

In one church, local partners report that around 100 families are taking shelter from the chaos unfolding outside. Press agencies speak of the ‘fierce’ fighting which has been filling the streets of Aleppo. 

As well as bringing more pain and upheaval for people in Syria, these recent events add to the unease felt by many, including Christians, following years of war and conflict – and, more recently, the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad. The country is 18^th on the World Watch List. Please keep Syria and its Christians in your prayers.