More information on yesterday’s al-Qaeda led attack on the Christian village of Maaloula near Damascus, Syria. Not only did they firebomb the village, and threaten to slaughter all Christians once the U.S. helps “liberate” Syria, but they also fired missiles and mortars at two ancient churches, St. Alias Church and St. Grace Church, while spraying the entrances of the churches with bullets.
McCain’s “moderates” open fire at ancient churches while screaming “thank God!”
Around eight defenders of the village were killed by the al-Qaeda led jihadis, who in the video below can be heard shouting “Allahu Akbar,” Islam’s ancient war cry. Nonetheless, John McCain, who wants the U.S. to aid al-Qaeda in Syria, absurdly insists that shouting “Allahu Akbar” is equivalent to a Christian saying “Thank God,” and that the rebels in Syria are “moderates and I guarantee you they are moderates.”
Maaloula is one of the oldest archaeological sites in the world, with ancient vestiges of Christianity (now being destroyed by U.S. supported al-Qaeda). The population still speaks Aramaic, the same language spoken during Jesus’ time.
Al-Qaida-linked rebels stage hit-and-run attacks in ancient Syrian Christian village
DAMASCUS, Syria — The sound of artillery reverberated Thursday through a predominantly Christian village north of Damascus as government troops and al-Qaida-linked rebels battled for control of the mountainside sanctuary.
The hit-and-run attacks on the ancient village of Maaloula, one of the few places in the world where residents still speak Aramaic, highlighted fears among Syria’s religious minorities about the growing role of extremists among those fighting in the civil war to topple President Bashar Assad’s regime.
The fighting came as President Barack Obama’s administration pressed the U.S. Congress for its authorization of a military strike against the Assad regime, while the president arrived at a G-20 summit in Russia expected to be overshadowed by Syria.
The fighting in Maaloula, a scenic village of about 3,300 perched high in the mountains, began early Wednesday when militants from Jabhat al-Nusra stormed in after a suicide bomber struck an army checkpoint guarding the entrance.
The group — listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department — is one of the most effective fighting forces among Syrian rebels. The suicide attack triggered battles that terrorized residents in the village, famous for two of the oldest surviving monasteries in Syria — Mar Sarkis and Mar Takla.
Online video showed rebels in the streets, some firing truck-mounted heavy machine guns in the direction of the surrounding mountains. The video appeared authentic and matched Associated Press reporting on the fighting.
Residents said Wednesday the rebels took over the mountaintop Safir hotel and were firing in the direction of the community below.
Rami Abdul-Rahman, director of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that despite a heavy army presence in the village, the rebels staged hit-and-run attacks, at one point patrolling the streets on foot and in vehicles, and briefly surrounding a church and a mosque before leaving early Thursday.
Heavy fighting around the village, which is on a UNESCO list of tentative world heritage sites — continued throughout the day, and heavy artillery echoed in the village.
“The stones are shaking,” said a nun at the Mar Takla monastery. “We don’t know if the rebels have left or not, nobody dares go out.”
Frightened residents expected the militants to return to the Safir hotel, she said, adding: “It’s their home now.”
She spoke with the AP on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
Al-Mayadeen TV, a Lebanese station who has an embed with the Syrian army, broadcast live images from the area Thursday evening that showed smoke rising from behind the hotel, suggesting the military was shelling it.
The nun said about 100 people from the village took refuge in the St. Takla convent that she helps run. The 27 orphans who live there had been taken to nearby caves overnight “so they were not scared,” she said.
Maaloula, about 40 miles (60 kilometers) northeast of Damascus, had been firmly under the regime’s grip, despite sitting in the middle of rebel-held territory east and north of the capital. The village was a major tourist attraction before the civil war. Some of its residents still speak a version of Aramaic, the language of biblical times believed to have been used by Jesus.
(Shaam News Network via AP video/ Associated Press ) – In this image taken from video obtained from the Shaam News Network, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, smoke rises from buildings due to heavy clashes between Free Syrian army fighters and government forces in Daraya, a suburb of Damascus, Syria, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2013.
Obamas “tyrannical dictator” dining with Christians in Maaloula!
Obama’ “moderate rebels” killing Christians in Maaloula!
We can expect more ethnic cleansing of Christians by the liar-in-chief Obama and his “rebels” aka al-Qaeda! The wonderboy is going to “talk” to the American people on Tuesday to convince us we need to bomb the crap out of Syria!!! 91% of the American people are against it!
‘Either You Convert to Islam, Or You Will Be Beheaded’ – Breitbart
Sep 9, 2013 – The village of Maaloula has been taken over by Syrian rebels associated with al Qaeda, who have stormed the Christian center and offered …
www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2013/09/09/Maaloula-Syria-rebels
mediachecker 