Changes

==Politics==

==Politics==

The [[Christians in Syria]] enjoy the tolerance of the secular government. But since the [[Syrian Civil War]] they are afraid to lose it, if the jihadist opposition will come in power.

The [[Christians in Syria]] were much more free before Assad took power, when Protestant Christian Fares al-Khouri was elected prime minister of Syria in 1954. Under Assad Christians are legally banned from becoming the head of state. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, over 60 percent of all churches in Syria that have been destroyed during the war have been by the Assad regime.<ref>Yamin, Bahnan / Moubayed, Samira / Barq, Mirna and Stifto, George (May 11, 2017). [http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/religion/332938-dont-be-fooled-assad-is-no-friend-of-syrias-christian-minorities Don't be fooled: Assad is no friend of Syria's Christian minorities]. ''[[The Hill]]''</ref>

After Assad allegedly used chemical weapons on his people, [[President Trump]] ordered a one-time airstrike against a Syrian air base, firing 60 cruise missiles at it on April 6, 2017.<ref>Griffin, Jennifer; Tomlinson, Lucas (April 7, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/04/07/us-missiles-target-syria-airfield-in-response-to-chemical-weapons-attack.html US missiles target Syria airfield in response to chemical weapons attack]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 7, 2017.</ref> This was the first direct military action the U.S. took against the Assad regime.<ref>Ackerman, Spencer; Pilkington, Ed; Jacobs, Ben; Borger, Julian (April 7, 2017). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/06/trump-syria-missiles-assad-chemical-weapons Syria missile strikes: US launches first direct military action against Assad]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved April 7, 2017.</ref> Trump stood by the decision, calling Bashar Assad a “butcher” and saying: “I have absolutely no doubt we did the right thing.”<ref>http://nation.foxnews.com/2017/04/12/trump-flips-four-policies-nato-being-one-i-said-it-was-obsolete-its-no-longer-obsolete</ref>

After Assad allegedly used chemical weapons on his people, [[President Trump]] ordered a one-time airstrike against a Syrian air base, firing 60 cruise missiles at it on April 6, 2017.<ref>Griffin, Jennifer; Tomlinson, Lucas (April 7, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/04/07/us-missiles-target-syria-airfield-in-response-to-chemical-weapons-attack.html US missiles target Syria airfield in response to chemical weapons attack]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 7, 2017.</ref> This was the first direct military action the U.S. took against the Assad regime.<ref>Ackerman, Spencer; Pilkington, Ed; Jacobs, Ben; Borger, Julian (April 7, 2017). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/06/trump-syria-missiles-assad-chemical-weapons Syria missile strikes: US launches first direct military action against Assad]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved April 7, 2017.</ref> Trump stood by the decision, calling Bashar Assad a “butcher” and saying: “I have absolutely no doubt we did the right thing.”<ref>http://nation.foxnews.com/2017/04/12/trump-flips-four-policies-nato-being-one-i-said-it-was-obsolete-its-no-longer-obsolete</ref>