Al-Qaida-linked Syria rebels hit Christian village (Maaloula)

[Jesus Malverde]

Al-Qaida-linked rebels launched an assault Wednesday on a regime-held Christian village in the densely populated west of Syria and new clashes erupted near the capital, Damascus — part of a brutal battle of attrition each side believes it can win despite more than two years of deadlock.

As the world focused on possible U.S. military action against Syria, rebels commandeered a mountaintop hotel in the village of Maaloula and shelled the community below, said a nun, speaking by phone from a convent in the village. She spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

The attack came hours before a Senate panel voted to give President Barack Obama authority to use military force against Syria — the first time lawmakers have voted to allow military action since the October 2002 votes authorizing the invasion of Iraq.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2013-09-04/french-parliament-to-debate-syria-strikes

Ma'loula or Maaloula (Aramaic: מעלולא?, Maʿlūlā; Arabic: معلولا? Maʿlūlā ) is a village in the Rif Dimashq Governorate in Syria. The town is located 56 km to the northeast of Damascus, and built into the rugged mountainside, at an altitude of more than 1500 metres. It is known as one of three places where Western Aramaic is still spoken, the other two being the nearby villagesJubb Adin and Bakh'a.

[Jesus Malverde]

1. Video of the activists (Graphic)

Last edited Thu Sep 5, 2013, 12:20 PM - Edit history (1)

The attack started with a suicide bombing on a regime check point. Followed by shelling of the unprotected village.

[Xithras]

12. And they're doing it with American supplied weapons.

At one point in the first video the cameraperson is running alongside another rebel, and you can see the front part of the rebels rifle. That's the unmistakable profile of the forward sight of an American M-16 variant.

The rebels are assaulting this village using weapons that you and I paid for. Sickening.

[kelliekat44]

19. Tell them that at FOX. They all say Assad is killing Christians and fire bombing their churches. n

[pjt7]

2. Thanks for posting this

2,000 year old language & culture should be protected & perserved.

& there is no doubt the radical Islamists will destroy this if they come into power.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

4. Backed by the Muslim Brotherhood who brought strife to the Copts that had

lived peacefully in Egypt for millennia.

We are f'ing up by the numbers.

[Jesus Malverde]

3. The village.

[bunnies]

10. wow. Its stunning.

How sad.

[dawg]

5. The "rebels" are interested in ethnic cleansing.

We should think twice before using the might of the U.S. military to help them.

[pjt7]

8. Amen

!

[eissa]

6. Ma'loula is not just any Christian village

It is a World Heritage site, one where the few remaining indigenous Christians of the region remain. If there is ANY doubt whatsoever what the rebels will do when they come to power, or who their first victims will be, let these videos put that to rest.

[David__77]

7. The US is supporting this terrorism.

Make no mistake, the proposed war is a war for al Qaeda, and those who implement it are al Qaeda's agents of influence.

[Catherina]

9. What lovely people n/t

[bunnies]

11. Fuck those guys.

Fuck the lot of them. Why in the world would we align with people like that. Disgusting.

[City Lights]

13. And these are our new friends.

How nice.

[ocpagu]

14. Oh, so these are the "freedom fighters"...

... with whom the US will ally to bring explosive democracy to Syria?

[Jesus Malverde]

15. bump...nt

[IronLionZion]

16. Syrian Christians have generally supported the Assad regime for decades

not condoning the attack by any means. Just pointing out a relevant paragraph from the article:

"The four-decade iron rule of the Assad clan over Syria has long rested on support from the country's ethnic and religious minorities, including Christians, Shiite Muslims and Kurds. The Assad family and key regime figures are Alawites, followers of an offshoot of Shiite Islam, while most rebels and their supporters are Sunni Muslims."

Al Qaeda is Sunni as well.

Its not clear who the "good guys" are in this conflict, if there are any.

[eissa]

17. Misleading

Christians are a minority in the region, and like any minority group, support administrations that are secular. The sad fact is this: minorities and women have fared far better under secular, brutal dictatorships in the Middle East (Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Egypt) than equally brutal theocracies (Saudi, Iran, Yemen.) Unfortunately, those appear to be the only two choices in the modern Middle East these days. Pick your poison.

[hrmjustin]

18. Yes they supported the government because the government protected them.

Christians in the ME are a persecuted minority. What are they supposed to do? Go over to the rebels who want to kill Christians?