Several Mideast-based Christians working on the Syria crisis have joined a growing chorus about U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to pull some 2,000 American troops from Syria. They say it puts Christians at risk and could force them to flee again, and they want the decision reversed. They added their voices to other Christian voices in Washington and Europe calling on Trump to reverse his decision, citing concerns for the fate of minorities and the risk they face from Islamic State.

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“This U.S. decision to with-draw with no guarantees opens up the gates of hell” for the people of northern Syria, said Fr Ema-nuel Youkhana, a priest, or archimandrite, of the Assyrian Church of the East. He spoke to Catholic News Service by phone, pointing to the controversial military threats already made by Turkey to attack the area.