Dozens of Christian Villages Trapped By Kurdish YPG Presence in Northeastern Syria

More than 35 Christian villages along the Khabur River in northeastern Syria, including the town of Tell Tamer, are facing an increasingly dangerous situation as Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) forces remain embedded in Christian population centers.

Local Christians say they have no ability to force the militia out and fear their towns could become battlegrounds if hostilities erupt. One resident warned that civilians could be caught in the middle should fighting break out before any political or military arrangement is reached.

Although the Kurdish YPG has publicly stated that it has redeployed to Kurdish-majority areas, residents report that armed units continue to operate from inside Assyrian villages, raising alarms among the local Christian population. Community members fear this presence could draw clashes with the Syrian Army directly into their towns, exposing civilians to grave risk.

The villages affected lie near Al Hasakeh, an area that has already suffered years of displacement, violence, and demographic pressure. Christian residents warn that continued militarization of their communities threatens the survival of Christian life along the Khabur River.