7 years on, priest says Church’s position is ‘shameful’

His comments come as Syria marked the seventh anniversary on Thursday of the popular uprising that sparked the country’s vicious war.

Half a million Syrians have been killed and 6.1 million have been internally displaced, according to the United Nations.

Of Syria’s estimated 10 million children, 8.6 million are in dire need of assistance, and nearly 6 million children are displaced or living as refugees.

Fr Nadim Nassar told Premier the international community’s intervention has played a role in Syria’s civil war.

“I’m not saying in anyway the international community should step back and leave Syria after such enormous involvement and engagement in the war of Syria. After the destruction, how can they step back?

“They shouldn’t have engaged in the war from the beginning.”

The US started arming and providing military assistance in 2014 for anti-President Bashar al-Assad rebel groups who were waging war against ISIS. They have also begun working with Syrian Kurds, who are also fighting against ISIS.

However, Syrian ally Russia has helped Mr Assad’s regime, and Iran has provided assistance with troops and money.

Since August 2011, Britain, along with the US, France and some Arab states, has insisted that the Syrian president must step down.

While Fr Nassar criticised the numerous international forces having a role to play in…