Coalition: Syria Rebels Withdraw from Christian Town
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Syrian rebels who seized an entry to a Christian town north of Damascus this week have now withdrawn to protect religious and archaeological sites there, an opposition statement said.
"Free Syrian Army (FSA) units on Wednesday destroyed posts at Maalula and Jabadine held by the army on the Damascus-Homs road after fierce clashes with President Bashar Assad's forces and auxiliaries," the Syrian National Coalition said overnight.
"The FSA was stationed for several hours in the vicinity, but did not attack any church or convent," the statement added.
The Coalition stressed its "commitment to protect all Syrians, no matter what their religion, race, confession or political belief, and its constant concern to preserve Syria's human and religious heritage by every means possible".
On Wednesday, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said jihadist fighters of the al-Nusra Front seized a military post at Maalula after a suicide attack.
It said regime warplanes later launched three air raids on the checkpoint taken by the Islamists.
A video posted on the Internet by rebels showed fighters speaking into walkie-talkies as the voiceover said: "Allahu akbar (God is greatest), liberation of the Maalula checkpoint."
The Observatory, which relies on a community of activists, doctors and lawyers on the ground for its information, said the assault began when a vehicle driven by a suicide bomber exploded at the checkpoint.
A resident of Maalula, a picturesque town 55 kilometers (34 miles) north of Damascus that sits nestled under a large cliff, told AFP the Al-Nusra Front assault began at 0300 GMT on Wednesday.
Speaking by phone from the Mar Takla Greek Orthodox monastery, the woman -- who asked not to be named -- said the rebels used shells and anti-aircraft machineguns, adding that some projectiles had hit the town center.
"It's the first time that we've been attacked," she said.
Maalula is a symbol of the Christian presence in Syria, and many of its inhabitants speak Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus Christ that only small, scattered communities around the world still use today.
It is full of troglodyte caves dating back to the first centuries of Christianity.
06 September 2013, 10:41
3216
"The FSA was stationed for several hours in the vicinity, but did not attack any church or convent," the statement added."
Nice try. Why were FSA-Al Qaeda shelling the churches and homes with mortar rounds and RPG fire? Why did they attack the roadblack stationed next to the town, if it was largely composed of a Christian militia tasked with protecting the town? Why were FSA-Al Qaeda terrorists seen making "victory" signs and saying they prevailed over the CRUSADERS?
06 September 2013, 19:03
512
You know why? o ask Iraqi Christians who attacked them? Al-qaida or Shiaa? Go ask Cupt Christians in Egypt who attacked them? Muslim brotherhood or Syrians loyal to Bashar. Go ask Patriarch Alrahai who kidnapped the bishops? the Rebel-terrorist or Assad forces? Go ask any Lebanese Christian if they were attacked by Palestinians-M14 backers or Shiaa during the 1975-1990 civil war?
06 September 2013, 23:00
91
And all of that "information" in your second paragraph - you got that from where exactly, if you don't mind sharing?
06 September 2013, 23:03
82
7adiqi: Go ask any Lebanese person, whatever their religion, who attacked them during the Lebanese Civil War indeed. I'm Shiite, and we were living in Shiah (Dahyeh) when the Syrian tanks rolled in circa '89. Go BS somebody else.
06 September 2013, 12:41
1419
the Syrian people will prevail against al nusra and assad and his regime.
06 September 2013, 13:10
1315
ASSad will prevail? you've been saying that for more than 2 years now...
06 September 2013, 16:30
1411
you guys have been saying that Assad has less than 2 weeks left for the past 2 years!!!
lets agree that no one will be prevailing any time soon. just as assad was wining, the chemical weapons attack occurred and now it will prolong the war a little longer.
in the end the biggest loser will be the syrian civilians and lebanon!
06 September 2013, 13:11
1216
let's see...120,000 killed by the dictatorship's regime's insisting on holding onto power vs. a few executed soldiers...yup you've totally changed my view on the Syrian revolution.
06 September 2013, 16:38
1010
where's your argument FT? Like Buthayna said? The children were kidnapped from Latikiya transported more than 300 kms through ASSad checkpoints to Ghouta and put there and then attacked by the revolutionaries? 2al IQ 2al...
06 September 2013, 19:07
103
Again..what's your argument? "comment mixing" and goes to questions about bombing Syria...Irony seems to be your forte.
06 September 2013, 14:02
1712
The FSA and Al qaida as it is clear in the post are one. The west still fighting for the muslim brotherhood while Egypt dissovle them. This Saudi-Qatari-Turkey way of life we do not need. Israelis will love us to adopt this life and culture but our Christians, Alwaites and Sunnis of Syria said NO. God bless!
06 September 2013, 14:09
1210
Long live the FSA, and the upcoming democratic syrian rulers.
06 September 2013, 16:12
1011
Misleading information stead by the regime and his assistants here.... AKA FT, Momo of Isfahan, and aliases.
06 September 2013, 14:13
1111
alzheimer whenever it suits him.
Le pire FC, is that he doesn't believe what he says, he's just paid to write this stuff for fairly obvious reasons.
The day Assad's head will be on a pic or at the Hague he'll be cheering like the rest of us.
06 September 2013, 14:33
107
i like how you think you're smart and smooth :)
all i've ever seen come out of you and your likes is pointing fingers and nagging.
06 September 2013, 14:41
1512
Don't worry, it is a tactical withdrawl. At the moment they need the world's support to bomb the Syrian army. Once that is done, they will come back and finish the Christians out. It is just a matter of time.
06 September 2013, 18:43
106
ft
you are definitely a traitor, no two sain people can disagree on that :)
you follow aun: proof N 1
you defend hizbushaitan: proof N 2
You defend the Syrian regime: proof N 3.
.....
06 September 2013, 18:56
511
I thought Al Qaida who attacked the town??? It turned to to FSA since the collation announced the withdraw... How is it possible to FSA-Christian and minority loving FSA attacked Maalula? They know Maalula. No Assad military there... Only nuns and priests. I wonder if Geagea still on board?
06 September 2013, 20:39
510
you should be proud FT, getting so many down votes on this site means you are on the right side. The few times I get more votes up than down, I have to go back and re-read my comment to see what I said wrong.
06 September 2013, 20:47
511
The word withdraw from the title is sure some good PR work from the head cutting nusra boys. My whole image of them has completely change now that they voluntarily withdrew from a Christian village.
06 September 2013, 22:08
82
Syria's biggest enemies are KSA and Qatar; the instigators, providers, supporters, creators of radical Islam which has plagued the religion. (I am not sure re. Turkey.) But, really, Syria aligns itself with no other than "Iran"? Really, So how could people like me who are moderates, intellectuals, believe in God but secular vis-a-vis politics, have any respect towards Assad's regime? Are Iranian Mullah and religious fanatics better than the Salafist, Islamist, Al-Qaeda types of Saudi Arabia or Qatar? Instead of fighting each other, target and remove the radicals from both sides and diminish the power and influence of these oppressive countries.
07 September 2013, 08:00
00
good job vincent....all the religious extremists need to go home and pray GOD in their own houses and leave the streets for the normal people.....
07 September 2013, 00:13
71
thats true they should have shot the idiot commander by the name of AOUN the traitor......
09 September 2013, 16:56
00
I am glad they are out. These are our people and only a few miles away. I have been to this village. It is not a military installation, and do not believe there is much if any Assad military there.
Yes I believe the FSA/Nusra attacked the village because most of them are pro-Assad.
