Syria: Christmas tree torched by Islamists in Christian town; HTS blames foreign fighters as protests erupt | WATCH

A Christmas tree was reportedly burned by a group of hoodie-donning men in a Christian-majority Syrian town, causing widespread protests. Syria's Christian population made their disappointment known by taking to the streets after videos shared on social media showed a bunch of men torching a beautiful Christmas tree set up on the green patch within a roundabout.

The incident happened in the Christian-majority town of Suqaylabiyah, near Hama, reports said. But the protests occurred in several parts of Syria including Damascus. 

Videos on X showed hundreds shouting slogans while carrying crosses and Syrian national flags. They claimed they wanted to live in their homeland following the faith they were born into and injustice towards Christians should be seized immediately. The protest at the capital concluded near the headquarters of the Orthodox Patriarchate, reports said. 

Representatives of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the rebel group that replaced the fallen Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, were quick to respond, saying that the tree will be replaced ahead of December 25. Reaching out to the Christian community, HTS vowed that it was foreign vandals who committed the act and no Syrian national was involved. 

Quoting the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Times Of Israel said that the tree was torched by foreign fighters belonging to the Islamist group Ansar al-Tawhid.

The incident is a blow to the HTS as it had promised to uphold the rights of minority communities in Syria. Despite being an Al-Qaeda offshoot, Syria's victorious rebel group has been hellbent on presenting itself as a moderate group with little to no interest in establishing an Islamic Caliphate. HTS, after claiming power, had even asked minorities to return to their homes and reclaim their properties as the war was over.