Originally published at National Catholic Register
The Syrian city of Aleppo, whose name has long been associated with war, began the Advent season under a new shadow. Jihadist factions, led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, advanced in the city, pushing Aleppo into a new phase, now with different rulers, ideologies, and flags.
Last week, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a militant faction affiliated with extremist groups, launched its largest operation in nearly nine years against Syrian government forces in the western Aleppo countryside. The offensive claimed several villages and towns, blocking the main international highway between Damascus and Aleppo. The attacks also targeted Aleppo’s university dorms, killing four students and wounding 10 others.
Then on Sunday, Dec. 1, Terra Santa College in Aleppo run by the Franciscans was hit by a strike. No casualties were reported.
Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham is a jihadist faction often described as an offshoot of al-Qaeda in Syria. It was formed in 2017 from a merger of five groups, including Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, formerly Jabhat al-Nusra.
What does this latest outbreak of violence mean for Aleppo’s Christians, and how are their spiritual leaders responding? After years of relative calm, this renewed conflict deepens the burden of an already dire economic crisis.
