Christian Leaders Appeal for Protection of Tyre's Christian District
Urgent action is being asked to protect Tyre's historic Christian community as conflict and displacement intensify in southern Lebanon.
TYRE, LEBANON — Christian leaders in the historic Lebanese city of Tyre have appealed for urgent intervention to prevent damage to the city’s Christian quarter as military tensions continue to escalate in southern Lebanon. The appeal follows an Israeli evacuation warning that included areas of the city previously spared from the conflict.
According to reports, hundreds of residents fled the Mediterranean port city after the warning was issued, while civil defense personnel assisted elderly residents and other vulnerable individuals in relocating to safer areas. Traffic reportedly stretched for miles along Lebanon’s coastal highway as families loaded vehicles with personal belongings and sought refuge elsewhere. An Israeli airstrike in another part of Tyre on June 10 reportedly killed eight people and wounded dozens more.
The appeal was issued by Metr. Elias Kfoury of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Tyre, Sidon and Dependencies; Metr. George Iskandar of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church; and Maronite Archeparch Charbel Abdullah. The hierarchs warned that the city's historic quarter is home to thousands of civilians and contains a religious and cultural heritage stretching back centuries. They urged Lebanese authorities and the international community to take immediate action to prevent further destruction and humanitarian suffering.
The Holy Orthodox Order of Saint George the Great Martyr also expressed concern over the situation, describing Tyre as one of Christianity's oldest centers and emphasizing its connections to both the ministry of Christ and the missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul. The organization noted that the city's Greek Orthodox, Melkite, Maronite, and other Christian communities represent an unbroken Christian presence dating back to apostolic times.
Tyre, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984, has experienced significant damage from recent military operations. Church leaders warned that further attacks could threaten not only human life but also the survival of one of the Middle East's oldest Christian communities. The Order of Saint George announced plans to launch a relief campaign to assist displaced Christians and other affected residents through local church structures in Lebanon.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian Christian village ahead of a holiday event.
