SYRIA: Greek Orthodox Christians beheaded, shot in the Valley of the Christians

By Paul Antonopoulos
Dec 16, 2024

Two Greek Orthodox Christians in Wadi al-Nasara (Valley of the Christians) were murdered in their home during a reported “burglary.”

Samaan Satme and Helena Khashouf from the village al-Jamasliyye in Syria’s Homs province were brutally murdered in their home.

Although the murder was initially reported as a burglary gone wrong, it later emerged that Samaan was beheaded and Helena shot, indicating that there were other motives.

Murdered on December 13, their funeral procession began the next day in the Church of Saint Simeon Stylites, Haba.

According to local reports, “random murders” in Homs and the coast continue, often fitting the pattern of assailants entering a house to murder the victims.

At the same time, a video is circulating on social media of a Lebanese Christian woman in Syria saying her brother living in Latakia with her mother was attacked by neighbours upon rebels’ arrival, telling him: “You’re Christians, leave the house, we don’t want you here!”

Turkish-backed jihadist forces launched an offensive in northern Syria on November 27, and by the end of the month had captured Aleppo, Syria’s largest city and commercial capital. As the rebels moved south, capturing Hama and Homs, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was in Moscow and not Damascus, which was ultimately captured on December 8.

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Mitsotakis to visit Beirut on Monday

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will visit Lebanon on Monday, December 13, he announced during the conference titled “Post-Junta Era 1974–2024: 50 Years of Greek Foreign Policy.”

The trip to Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, was initially scheduled for December 6 but was postponed due to a malfunction in the government aircraft. As previously announced, the primary purpose of the visit is to support the reorganisation of Lebanon’s armed forces through technical assistance from Athens.

Mitsotakis is also scheduled to meet with his Lebanese counterpart, Najib Mikati and the Speaker of the Parliament, Nabih Berri. During these meetings, he is expected to reiterate Greece’s readiness to assist in strengthening Lebanon’s state institutions, including its armed forces.

Additionally, he is expected to engage with members of the Greek community in Lebanon.

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