Syria, Christians filled churches during Holy Week, defying fears of jihadist attacks. Under the protection of armed police and Christian militia, Damascus’ Al-Qassaa neighborhood saw vibrant Easter celebrations, with Patriarch John X leading services. Maria-Athina Stefanou described the solemn Epitaph procession and Resurrection service, noting, “It was as if Christ had risen again in Syria.”
Tag: Syria
US lawmakers, in a bipartisan letter, urged the State Department to stop Turkey’s plan to transfer Russian S-400 missile systems to Syria, warning it could destabilize the region, undermine Israel’s military edge, and complicate US interests. The move would not lift CAATSA sanctions and risks escalating tensions, they argue.
In a statement to the United Nations, Greece condemned the recent attacks by Turkey and…
The latest response of High Representative Kaja Kallas regarding Syria is a reversal of her…
Greece has officially designated Turkey as a “safe third country,” allowing the immediate rejection and return of asylum seekers from Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Somalia who enter illegally from Turkey, as part of a tougher migration policy led by Minister Makis Voridis.
At the Delphi Economic Forum, Israeli Ambassador to Greece Noam Katz emphasized the deepening strategic partnership between Greece and Israel, grounded in shared values and regional interests. Addressing regional instability, he highlighted cooperation in energy, defense, and diplomacy, while reaffirming Israel’s firm stance on Hamas and security threats in Gaza and Syria.
Turkey’s growing military presence in Syria, including plans to control the T4 air base near Palmyra, has sparked new tensions with Israel. As Ankara seeks to expand its influence by supporting Syria’s transitional president Ahmed al-Sharaa and deploying air defense systems, Israel has responded with airstrikes to deter Turkish encroachment
Left MEP and member of the Security & Defense Committee, Professor Nikolas Farantouris, once again…
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised U.S. President Donald Trump as the ideal mediator to prevent conflict with Turkey, citing Trump’s strong rapport with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan amid discussions on avoiding escalation over Syria.
Excerpt:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is lobbying U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump to block the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, citing Ankara’s expanding influence in Syria. During his White House visit on April 7, 2025, Netanyahu pressed Trump on the issue, following multiple discussions with Rubio in March and April. Israel fears Turkey’s control of Syrian bases, like T4, could threaten its security, especially as Ankara negotiates a defense pact with Damascus and deploys air defense systems.
Israel is bombing military bases in Syria, which is now controlled by the Islamist al-Jolani…
A terrorist attack was thwarted at the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George in Bludan, Syria, on April 6, 2025, when extremists from al-Jolani’s militia attempted to burn the church and detonate explosives before the Divine Liturgy. Miraculously, the fire extinguished itself, and the bombs failed to explode, an event many attribute to Saint George’s intervention.
Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan expresses Turkey’s desire to avoid confrontation with Israel in Syria and suggests that any agreements between the new Damascus administration and Israel are their own matter. He also anticipates that Trump will address U.S. sanctions over Turkey’s S-400 purchase, calling it “an anomaly” to be corrected.
On April 3, 2025, Israeli airstrikes hit a Turkish airbase under construction in Syria, killing at least three Turkish “engineers.” The attack signals a sharp escalation in the simmering conflict between Israel and Turkey, raising tensions in the volatile region.
Israel has cratered the runway of Syria’s T4 air base to block Turkey from establishing a military presence that could threaten Jerusalem’s control over Syrian airspace
The Russia-Ukraine conflict and Israel’s war on the terrorist group Hamas and various other extremist…
Jonathan Adiri, former advisor to Israeli President Shimon Peres, warns that Türkiye, under Erdogan, is no longer seeking influence in the Middle East—it’s shaping the region itself. With plans for bases in Syria, a powerful NATO military, and control over Europe’s natural gas pipelines, Türkiye poses a greater threat to Israel than Iran. Adiri suggests alliances with a Sunni bloc or Greece and Cyprus, but urges Israel to find shared interests with Türkiye to avoid conflict and foster cooperation.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis participated in a high-level quadrilateral summit in Paris, addressing regional security, migration, and energy cooperation alongside leaders from France, Cyprus, and Lebanon.
Greek Member of the European Parliament, Nikolas Farantouris, who visited Damascus at the peak of…
“Syria can return to violence or start an inclusive transition and end decades of conflict,”…