Eagles of Antioch protect Christians in Damascus, Syria

A group of volunteers in Damascus called the Eagles of Antioch is taking action to protect Christian neighborhoods amid increasing violence in Syria. Their mission is to guard churches, icons, and shrines from vandalism and attacks in the aftermath of the Assad regime. The concern for Christians has deepened under the new Islamist government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa. Many in the Christian community are worried about their future. Jeff King, president of International Christian Concern, described the situation as critical, with Christians facing threats from extremist groups. The Eagles of Antioch formed after the fall of Bashar Al Assad. The group is made up of about 500 volunteers who patrol Christian areas from dusk until dawn. They aim to fill the security gap in their neighborhoods. Danial Georgios, a member of the Eagles of Antioch, emphasized their desire to be treated equally as citizens, alongside Muslims and Alawites. The group draws its name from the historic city of Antioch and includes members from different Christian denominations. They actively protect Christian sites and repair any damage caused by attacks. Recently, they organized protests after a Christmas tree was burned by extremists, calling for equal rights for all Syrians. Georgios highlighted that they want to self-police their areas without causing conflict with the government. He claims that most recent attacks on Christians have been from foreign factions, not sanctioned by the current government. Despite some reports of violence, he insists that the government seeks stability and coexistence. The Eagles of Antioch have been able to work with the HTS government to maintain order in their communities. They have even received permission to carry licensed weapons. However, concerns remain about the safety of Christians in Syria, where their population has drastically decreased from 1.5 million to between 300,000 and 500,000 due to ongoing conflict and persecution. King warns that the Christian community lives in constant fear as tensions rise.