US Vice President Warns of Rising Minority Persecution in Syria

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, has expressed grave concerns over reports of targeted violence against Christians and other minority groups in Syria, following the fall of the Assad regime and the implementation of the country’s new constitutional declaration, he described the situation as potentially “a horrific massacre” and stressed the need for urgent action.

In a recent interview with Fox News, Vice President Vance stated that the US administration is working to determine the true extent of the violence, questioning whether it constitutes isolated incidents or a broader campaign of mass persecution.

“It looks really bad, and we’re trying to figure out exactly how bad it is—whether this is something limited to what we see on social media or if we’re dealing with mass genocide,” he explained.

He attributed the worsening crisis to radical elements that gained ground in Syria, criticizing past US policies that emboldened Islamist factions.

“Unfortunately, when America encourages these so-called rebels to take over a country, it’s religious minorities—especially Christians—that suffer the most. We do not want to see another Christian community erased from the face of the earth,” Vance asserted.

US Engages Allies to Protect Syrian Minorities

Vice President Vance confirmed that Washington has already begun diplomatic engagements to ensure the protection of vulnerable communities, including Christians and Druze. While ruling out direct military intervention, he stressed the importance of leveraging diplomatic and economic tools to safeguard Syria’s historical minorities.

“We’re talking to our allies. We’re already working behind the scenes to push for protections for minorities. But it’s truly scandalous,” he said.

Referring to past U.S. foreign policy failures, Vance drew a comparison to Iraq, where the American-led invasion contributed to the decimation of one of the world’s oldest Christian populations.

“Whatever your views on the Iraq War, the result was the destruction of an ancient Christian community. We cannot allow that to happen again,” he warned.

Syria’s Constitutional Declaration Deepens Divisions

The Vice President’s remarks come amid mounting controversy over Syria’s newly introduced constitutional declaration, which has been met with sharp criticism from ethnic and religious minorities, including Kurds and Druze.

While some view the declaration as a pathway to stability, others argue that it enshrines a centralized power structure and imposes a singular national identity, sidelining the country’s diverse communities. The Kurdish National Council in Syria (KNCS) has been particularly vocal, condemning the document as exclusionary.

“The declaration fails to reflect the aspirations of a multi-ethnic and multi-religious Syria,” the KNCS said in an official statement, criticizing its lack of guarantees for national and religious rights.

Moreover, the KNCS pointed to the declaration’s failure to uphold state neutrality in religious affairs, maintaining a constitutional requirement that the president must adhere to a specific religion.

“This contradicts the fundamental principles of equal citizenship that should form the foundation of any democratic system,” the statement added.