Syria Islamist rebels seize Christian town

[jakeXT]

Source: CNN

(CNN) - An al Qaeda-linked rebel group has wrested control of the historic Christian town of Maaloula from regime forces, opposition groups said Sunday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the hardline Islamist rebels of the al-Nusra Front seized control Saturday night.

Videos posted on YouTube in recent days showed fighting between rebels and government forces in the tiny sleepy town, an hour's drive from the capital Damascus.

"We cleansed Maaloula from all the Assad dogs and all his thugs," a rebel commander shouts at the camera in a video posted online over the weekend.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/08/world/meast/syria-civil-war/

---

Rebels claim....



That was a tweet from yesterday


Latest from #Maaloula: #Syria army in the village,bt militants still take mountaintop Safir hotel + have strong positions behind mountains
17:20 Sa., 7. Sep.

@MFinoshina_RT

[David__77]

1. Is this the "momentum on the battlefield" the pro-war senators hope for?

To be clear, the ONLY force holding back these terrorists is the Syrian army and militias. When the pro-war resolution passed out of committee calls for "momentum" through US bombing, this sort of thing will be the result. And Christians and anyone who doesn't adhere to Al Qaeda ideology will be under attack.

Beautiful historic town...

[delrem]

5. Even in 2013, some people don't understand what allying one's country with al Qaeda means.

I'm not suggesting that Assad is "right" and "deserves to rule".
I'm suggesting that there other and better ways to do things, rather than blundering in, destroying and making a mess, without any education at all.

[musical_soul]

20. That is beautiful....

and I do agree that a strike at this point will only make things worse for Christians and other people the rebels have a problem with.

[dipsydoodle]

2. And yet in Friday's news - Syria rebels withdraw from ancient Christian town of Maaloula

Syrian rebels have withdrawn after briefly entering an ancient Christian town north of Damascus, the main opposition alliance has said.

Free Syrian Army (FSA) units captured military positions outside Maaloula after heavy clashes with government forces and militiamen on Thursday.

>

Many fear that if the secular government is overthrown they will be targeted by Sunni jihadist rebels calling for the establishment of an Islamic state and that Christian communities will be destroyed, as many were in Iraq after the US-led invasion in 2003.

Among the rebels who clashed with soldiers in Maaloula and the local Popular Committee, set up to defend the town, on Thursday were members of the al-Nusra Front, a group allied to al-Qaeda, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23986076

edit to add - yes very beautiful town.

[delrem]

3. We can only hope and pray that al Qaeda doesn't take the town. nt

[dipsydoodle]

4. I thought Kerry rubbished the significance of there being many al Qaeda in Syria.

[rpannier]

6. Well he also uses his Vietnam record to keep his anti-war credentials

But he voted for the 2002 Iraq Resolution.
So, I don't put much stock in what he says

[arewenotdemo]

25. I just saw an interview where Kerry said that he was AGAINST the Iraq War.

No Iraqi and American blood on HIS hands, apparently.

The interviewer didn't even challenge him on the lie.

[delrem]

7. We know that's false - so yes, what to do when leaders are liars?

And have been liars for too long.

I think there's already a critical mass to make a new and more progressive beginning in the US. I'm afraid that Mr. Kerry and the admin he belongs to won't be part of that - they'll be a chrysalis that's shucked. I mean, this is after the empirical evidence.

If *they* don't fulfill the promise of hope, that doesn't mean hope doesn't exist and that the future belongs to them, the liars and dissemblers. Opinion polls consistently say things like: a well orchestrated campaign for a single payer cradle to grave health service is a winning political issue. Peace (not war) in the ME is a winning issue. Fair Trade over Free Trade is a winning issue. Over and over, progressive ideas and plans are winning issues - and they are only thwarted by a gang of elite "leaders" (but remember, in the end they're only "leaders" at our sufferance) who get instantaneously bought out by big money, if they weren't already bought out and maneuvering about in the party like Trojan horses.

It isn't a crime to be fooled! It's better to be fooled by a pretender than to be a right-wing asswipe by nature.

[Laelth]

9. Interesting observation (a bit off topic).

I think there's already a critical mass to make a new and more progressive beginning in the US.

I certainly hope you are right, but I don't see evidence of a progressive resurgence, personally. I would be interested to hear your further thoughts on the matter.

-Laelth

[7962]

19. It seems as though this is something that has unified many Democrats and Republicans

Something that seemed never to happen again.

[Laelth]

24. Ah, I see what you mean.

Honestly, this phenomenon (of populists on both the left and right agreeing) has been happening more and more in the past several years.

As I argued here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023570958#post19

-Laelth

[joshcryer]

10. The video is 2 days old.

CNN has it: http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/08/world/meast/syria-civil-war/

I think this is the media reporting, basically, 2 day old news. I believe the rebels fled after Assad attacked them.

Hopefully there were few deaths and everyone was safe.

Hopefully the Islamists don't have the town.

[jakeXT]

12. It's a bit confusing

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Rebels including al-Qaida-linked fighters gained control of a Christian village northeast of the capital Damascus, Syrian activists said Sunday. Government media provided a dramatically different account of the battle suggesting regime forces were winning.

It was impossible to independently verify the reports from Maaloula, a scenic mountain community known for being one of the few places in the world where residents still speak the ancient Middle Eastern language of Aramaic.

...

"The army pulled back to the outskirts of the village and both (rebel groups) are in total control of Maaloula now," he told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

He said pro-government fighters remain inside the village, in hiding.

http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Activists-Syrian-rebels-take-Christian-village-4796452.php

[joshcryer]

13. I think the media is looking for easy hits.

Cite a 2 day old video as proof that the rebels have the town, write a reactionary article about how islamists have taken it, lots of people click. Wow, the evil islamists took a christian town, wow. I think, well, hope, it's not true. From the video it didn't seem like the islamist forces had any sway whatsoever. They seemed like a ragtag bunch to me.

[David__77]

16. It did seem odd, the back and forth of it.

I thought perhaps I was losing it (more than usual).

[joshcryer]

17. No worries.

CNN in particular played it up. Showed the 2 day old video then turned to a 2 year old video of an interview with a shop keeper in that town. Apparently the 2 day old video was filmed in front of the shop. Anyhow, from what I saw it was a small group of "insurgents" who, from what I could tell, were just passing through and trying to make a statement. It reminded me of Libya where some would shoot weapons off for no freaking reason and I'd facepalm and wished they'd save their bullets for real engagement...

edit: not to say that I am with these ragtag insurgents, it's just that they seemed incompetent, as in Libya whenever I'd see that behavior.

[daleo]

21. Two day old video is not exactly ancient news

I wouldn't fault the media for that, as long as a dateline is provided.

[pampango]

14. According to the UK Guardian, they have withdrawn from the town.

Syrian opposition forces have withdrawn from Maaloula, the ancient Christian village they first entered on Wednesday, the BBC reports based on a Syrian National Coalition account:

"For months the rebels have been around Maaloula but there has been a sort of an understanding with the residents that they would not enter," Samia Elias, a resident who stayed in Maaloula during the fighting, told the Reuters news agency.

"To be fair, they do not seem to have touched churches or homes."

Overnight, the National Coalition issued a statement confirming that FSA units had withdrawn after destroying army posts at Maaloula.

The opposition alliance also 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".

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/06/syria-crisis-splits-g20-live

[joshcryer]

15. Yeah, that's what I figured.

The video showed maybe a dozen guys at most. They couldn't have taken the town alone. It would've required several dozen. At least 50 people. Probably more.

[Laelth]

8. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[oberliner]

11. Tough for Christians all over the region

From Egypt to Syria, it seems like the Christians always seem to get the short end of the stick.

[Skittles]

26. actually, it's the non-believers who get the shortest end

[jakeXT]

18. Video

http://rt.com/news/syria-christian-village-standoff-570/

RT’s crew traveled to the site only to find themselves in a crossfire between government forces and rebels.

“It’s hard to believe that what used to be one of the most significant shrines of the Christian community all over the world is a battlefield now,” Maria Finoshina reported from outside the village.

“We’ve entered Maaloula village with the army, but just a few minutes later we were told to get back,” she says, as intensive shooting could be heard in the background.

[daleo]

22. It's not hard to believe a shrine could become a battleground

History is replete with that, since religious wars have been one of the most prominent features of human history. In fact, large parts of the religious texts of major religions are just descriptions of holy wars.

[L0oniX]

23. It's just a temporary "surge". n/t

[jakeXT]

27. Christians flee Syria village that speaks the language of Jesus

Christians flee Syria village that speaks the language of Jesus


Christians in Syria were fleeing one of the oldest Christian towns in the world on Sunday, after regime forces failed to win it back from Islamist rebel fighters.

Rebel groups, including a branch of al-Qaeda, have taken control of Maaloula, one of the few remaining villages where the language of Christ is still spoken, residents and activists reported.

“Our army, the Syrian army, has failed us,” said Sister Antoinette, a nun from Maaloula, claiming the regime had forsaken control of the town. “We called the army, we begged them to come inside Maalouola and save us but they stayed outside. They sold us because we are a minority. They abandoned us because we are Christians.”


...

Villagers told the Daily Telegraph that, having won control of much of the town, the rebel groups had turned on each other, with the hardline Jabhat al-Nusra, who believes in turning Syria into an Islamic emirate seeking to force the more moderate FSA fighters from the are.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10294711/Christians-flee-Syria-village-that-speaks-the-language-of-Jesus.html

[Comrade Grumpy]

32. And here, in microcosm, is the future of the glorious Syrian revolution:

"Villagers told the Daily Telegraph that, having won control of much of the town, the rebel groups had turned on each other, with the hardline Jabhat al-Nusra, who believes in turning Syria into an Islamic emirate seeking to force the more moderate FSA fighters from the are."

[Tx4obama]

28. Kick n/t

[ausboy]

29. As a Syrian, here is my view...

I have been watching and following democraticunderground for a long while now. I must admit, it is so reassuring to be able to come to a place where I find americans who are able to find their own viewpoints and find their own truths on matters, that are otherwise washed by the media.

The recent events in Maaloula are tragic. But they're not the first in this ongoing war. I have family and friends in Syria, and know many more there, all who would tell you - they do not want the rebels/jihadists/extremists there, and they just want all this to stop now.

The fact is, and we all know, if western aid subsides - this conflict would be over.

The initial wave of protests was indeed hijacked. President Bashar also made amendments back then to appease the protests, but they turned violent very quickly, and before we knew it, we had a whole army of foreigners supposedly calling themselves the "free syrian army". Since when are foreigners Syrian anyway??

I wish there was a way I could reach words to your government, as it has the power to end this. Not end by a militaristic approach, but end it by ceasing supply of weapons & intel to the rebel forces.

The rebels that took maaloula, were carrying american weapons. Why? ...why. Then there were forced conversions and killings of anyone who didn't convert.

A secular state that offers freedom of religion is much better, even if it is controlled by a dictator... The minorities were looked after. The Syrian government would easily put an end to this, if the rebels were not constantly backed by more people and more firepower. Am I pro-Assad? No. But the opposition is much much worse. This is where a distinction needs to be made.

As someone who lived in Syria, I can tell you the country was fine. Yes there were some quirks with the government. But at what cost do you remove a working system? The majority of Syrians were living in peace, and had opportunistic lives. Now what? The majority have no hope, peace or opportunity. And should the western backed al Qa-eda forces reign supreme then what?

It pains me to see this. For a long time I was a strong supporter of American influence on the world. Now that it's hit my homeland I wonder why... I was pro Iraq war (yes i know- there were no WMD's, but i did believe there were too!), and I am a big fan of your freedoms and values. I'm just torn.

Obama, please end this. You do have the power to end this... but pulling back. There is no shame in admitting you are sometimes wrong. we all are.

[jakeXT]

30. Shooting at protesters always reminds me of Venezuela

[gopiscrap]

33. Welcome to DU

[NCarolinawoman]

34. My heart breaks for all the suffering that the Syrian people have endured.

Thank you so much for coming here and explaining things so rationally and clearly.

I cannot thank you enough!

[jakeXT]

31. Maaloula remains very complicated

#Maaloula remains very complicated. Snipers everywhere while no one know exactly where. Impossible to get to the monasteries. Roads targeted

https://mobile.twitter.com/MFinoshina_RT?p=s