Saudi described Russian airstrikes in Syria as “Religious War” against Sunni Muslims; Russian Church declared it a “Holy war” to protect Christians

Russian Orthodox Church described the war being fought by the Russian army in Syria as holy war to protect Christians in the region.

Russian Orthodox Church’s Public Affairs Department quoted the Church’s statement and said it is a blessing to the Russian forces’ fighting in Syria. Public Affairs Department said that Russia took a responsible decision to use military forces to protect the Syrian people from terrorism.

Vsevolod Chaplin, Head of the Church’s Public Affairs Department, said that Russia is always committed to protect weak and oppressed community like the Christians of Middle East. He also claimed that Christians are facing real genocide in Middle East.

Syrian Journalist, Faisal Al-Qassem in his post on Facebook criticized the military operations by Russian Air Force in Syria and said that a few days ago, Russian President opened the largest mosque in Moscow, then he is sending his planes to Syria to kill Syrian Muslims.

Meanwhile, Saudi Academic, Mohammed Al-Hadeef, described Western interference in Syria as a “religious war” against Sunni Muslims in order to make Sunni Muslim a minority in their own countries.