Escalating sectarian violence in Syria has prompted an urgent appeal for prayer from a global charity dedicated to protecting minority Christian communities. Last year, the Assad Government was overthrown by an organisation that was once an Al-Qaeda affiliate but is currently presenting itself to the West as having changed its ways.

Reports from the coastal region in the Middle East country say hundreds of civilians have been killed in clashes, many in indiscriminate attacks.

According to sources in Latakia close to Aid to the Church in Need, last Friday was described as “a very black and painful day” in the cities of Tartus, Banias, Jabla, and Latakia, and the surrounding villages.

“Massacres against many Alawites, often indiscriminately, in response to an ambush by some Alawite militants that killed about 20 members of the new security forces.”

The same source stated: “The number of victims is very sad; the majority were civilians, more than 600, who lost their lives, including young people, women, university doctors, and pharmacists. Some families with their children were killed in cold blood.” Among the deceased were also members of Christian communities, such as “a father and son from an evangelical church in Latakia, who were stopped in their car and killed, as well as the father of a priest in Banias.”