Syrian rebels from the al-Qaeda-linked faction Jabhat al-Nusra attacked the Christian village of Maaloula today, seizing control of a mountain-top hotel and using it to launch mortars against the surrounding area, forcing the locals to hide in a convent.
Al-Qaeda has accused Syria’s Christian minority of being “pro-Assad,” though as a practical matter they are simply averse to the Islamist-dominated rebels that are constantly attacking them.
Overall casualties from the attack is not yet clear, but rebel reports claim at least eight government soldiers were killed in the fighting, and at least one Nusra fighter died in a suicide bombing.
Islamist rebels also attacked Mushirfeh, a town in Homs Province, killing nine people in that raid. The identities of the victims were unclear, but much of the recent fighting in Homs has involved attacks on members of the nation’s Alawite minority.
It's more like Assad or Mossad Al-Qaeda since Israel has been backing Assad through Russia and does not want him taken out. It's normal for them to do this to create confusion.
I wonder if "Dear Leader" will make his case about how we have to overthrow Assad so we can then clear out the very ones we've supported all along. I'll be waiting with baited breath.
For the past two years Al Nusra has publically vied with Al Qaeda in Iraq and the Levant as the most dedicated and deadly Al Qaeda group in Syria. This story is one of many reporting on the presence of one of these two self-proclaimed Al Qaeda groups in specific cities, towns and villages in Syria. The last I heard, Al Qaeda was the greatest threat to our national security and any Al Qaeda group is fair game for US military attacks at any time anywhere on the planet. QUESTION: Why has the US failed or refused to attack self-identified Al Qaeda groups the locations of which are known to any reader of major US media (let alone our 16 US intelligence agencies)? Has our President/Commander in Chief instructed our armed forces not to touch Al Qaeda groups which are allied with US efforts to oust the government of Syria? Has our Congress approved this grant of immunity to Al Qaeda groups which support the "regime change" in Syria that our President has been demanding for the past two years? Is there any US official in the White House or Congress who should not be impeached for lending aid and comfort to our Al Qaeda enemies?
Al-Queada and its affiliated terrorist groups are pro Saudi Arabia and they are paid mercenaries by UAE and Saudis tyrants regime. They are fighting the Syrian people, the Christians and all other nationals in Syria. where is Bill Clinton to condemn the ethnic cleansing in Syria by these barbarians, where is Madeline Albright to condemn the ethnic cleansing on all national in Syria, people of Syrian been living in peace with one and the other for hundreds of years, Saudis cannot brake such bounds, nor USA or EU is able to brake the unity of the Syrian people.
I visited the village of Maloula in 2000, together with a tourist group. I saw a prayer of "Our father in heaven" in Aramaic, the ancient language which was spoken during the Roman time in that area.
The inhabitants of this small ancient christian minority (some several thousands) have been there since the beginning of Christianity. They got well along with their muslim neighbours. Not surprinsingly ethnic clashes and sectarian violence spread more and more since Israel was founded. The Israelis do not bear arab neighbours which live peacefully together and which cannot be portrayed by the anti-arab-hatred propaganda as the Israelis usually want the western public to see their arab enemies.
Until now, when US-and Israel-backed mercenaries started the "rebel"-war.
Whatever the outcome of a war against Assad may be: one thing is sure (and obviously wanted by the USrael warmongers): A pluralistic Syria – as it was for centuries – will be replaced by small ethnic entities which are better to control by Israel and the US and maybe the arab christians left the country or are dead.