"Christians in Syria’s southern Suwayda province marked Christmas on Wednesday evening with subdued festivities, limiting celebrations to prayers and the lighting of candles and a Christmas tree, in mourning for those killed during last summer’s violence. Footage shows worshippers attending Christmas Mass at St George Church in the city of Suwayda, alongside scenes of the Christmas tree and candles being lit inside the church. Metropolitan Antonios Saad, Archbishop of the Diocese of Bosra, Hauran, Jabal al-Arab and the Golan (Greek Orthodox), said the church deliberately scaled back celebrations in solidarity with grieving families. “In solidarity with the sorrow of this province, Suwayda is grieving. The church scouts were preparing to present a performance as they do every year for the blessed feast, but I asked them to refrain from doing so. I also closed the doors of the archdiocese to holiday well-wishers,” he said. “We limited the celebrations to religious ceremonies, lighting candles, and praying for the repose of the souls of those who have departed from us, the martyrs,” he added. Suwayda province witnessed violent clashes last summer between Bedouin tribes and forces aligned with the transitional government on one side, and local Druze groups on the other, resulting in the deaths of around 1,895 people. The fighting eventually ended following several ceasefire agreements. In December 2024, Syria’s current transitional government took power in Damascus, after which Ahmad Al-Sharaa was appointed interim president, pledging to form an 'inclusive government'. However, media reports have indicated that civilians from Druze, Alawite, Christian and other minority communities have since been subjected to violations. These developments later prompted calls from Suwayda province for separation, while the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces have yet to be integrated into the 'new Syrian army' at the time of publication."