Syria (MNN) — Syria’s new interim prime minister, Mohammed al-Bashir, has called all Syrian refugees to return. He promises freedom and protection for all people and sects.

However, some Syrians aren’t willing to bank their lives on mere words yet.

Neighboring Lebanon hosts an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees. Nuna with Triumphant Mercy Lebanon says many who were against the fallen regime will go back. Some already have.

Syrian refugee camp in the outskirts of Athens.
(Photo courtesy of Julie Ricard/Unsplash)

“But also we have the others who are with the regime and who are fleeing now,” Nuna explains. “So we do have both. We have a new influx, yes, and also people who are thinking of going.”

Christians are fearing for their lives due to the extremist ideology of the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group (HTS).

HTS is the rebel group that overthrew Assad’s regime and currently holds power in the country. Along with having roots in al-Qaeda, HTS is considered a terrorist group by the United States.

Nuna puts things in perspective, referencing the power shift in Afghanistan in 2021. “The Taliban did this. They promised things and they promised changes, but then we saw what happened.”

Triumphant Mercy Lebanon has paused its work in Syria but still maintains contact with local believers.

“Everybody’s inside their homes, and they’re not even able to go to buy groceries. They’re just afraid,” says Nuna. “The situation is so unclear that we’re not doing anything. We’re waiting to see.

“Our job really is to encourage people saying God is in control and God will take care of you. That’s all we can do.”

Pray that God’s will be done. Pray that this time of transition and upheaval does not rouse dormant terrorist cells in Lebanon.

Nuna encourages, “I believe that God is just changing the Middle East. We’re in the contraction, and the contractions are getting more serious and heavier. So we’re waiting for this new Middle East designed by God to come to place.”

 

Header photo of Mohammed al-Bashir, Syria’s interim prime minister. (Photo courtesy of عبد الرحمان بومعيزة – Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=156480316)