[Today’s prayer] “Over 4,300 people died in the Syrian civil war last year… 500 more than in 2022”

AFP reported on the 31st of last month (local time) that more than 4,300 people have died in the civil war in Syria in 2023.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based monitoring group for the Syrian civil war, a total of 4,360 people, including combatants and civilians, were killed in the Syrian civil war last year.

This is 535 more people than 3,825 in 2022.The total number of civilian deaths was 1,889, including 241 women and 307 children.

SOHR reported that 900 of the dead were killed by Syrian government forces, and the rest were killed by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), pro-American Kurdish militia, pro-Iranian forces, and the Islamic State (IS).

The Syrian civil war began in March 2011 when the Bashar al-Assad regime brutally suppressed anti-government protests against the dictatorship.

At that time, along with the Arab Spring uprising that started in Tunisia and spread throughout the Middle East, the Syrian people also called for the overthrow of the Assad regime, and the government forces bloodily suppressed the protesters, deteriorating into a civil war.

In the early days of the civil war, the outnumbered anti-government camp was dominant, but with support from Iran and Russia, the Assad regime regained much of its territory.

After government airstrikes in 2020, a ceasefire was declared by the mediation of Russia and Turkiye, but this has been repeatedly violated.

AFP reported that the 13-year civil war has killed 500,000 people, devastated the country's infrastructure and industry, and forced millions of residents to flee.

(omitted)

Source: Yonhap News

God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. (Acts 2:24)

We hear the sad and unfortunate news that a total of 4,300 civilian and military deaths occurred due to the Syrian civil war in 2023, which is 535 more than the 2022 figure.

Lord, please have mercy on the Syrian souls who have lost everything and become refugees that are living in pain due to the 13-year long civil war since 2011.

In 2024, which brings a new start of year, may we see the gospel of Jesus end all death in Syria, and let Syria play the role of the Arab high priest who brings revival throughout the whole Arab world.

We thank you for allowing us to hear news of Syrian souls who are scattered throughout the Arab world as refugees, but are being served by the Arab Church and returning to the Lord.

May Jesus, who is not bound by death, rule over Syria with power, and may the day come soon when we will see the dominance of the world, which seemed like it would last forever, bow down before the Lord.

Therefore, let Syria dance with joy at the feast of life, holding hands with the Arabs and all nations, and prepare the way for the coming of the Lord!