Posted on 09/07/2013 6:50:13 PM PDT by annalex
On September 5th the Syrian opposition armed groups attempted to capture Maalula, the town populated mostly by Christians, located 60 km from Damascus. The correspondent of "Voice of Russia" got in touch with the eyewitness to the events, which was in town during the assault, Vail Malas.
Maalula town is best known for the fact that its inhabitants speak a dialect of Aramaic, which is close to the language of Jesus Christ. Government troops repulsed the attack, but the militants related to "Dzhabhat en-Nusra" and "Al-Qaeda", managed to gain a foothold on the surrounding heights, from where they continue to shell the town.
That's what told the "Voice of Russia" an eyewitness, who was at the time of the assault in the city, activistWael Malas:
- You were in town Maalula during the assault. What happened there?
- I was visiting relatives in Maalula and met with monks and nuns, when terrorists, "al-Nusra Dzhabhat" and other armed groups, stormed into the city,. They seized the oldest world's first female monastery of Saints Thecla, the Monastery of the Holy Prophet Elijah and a tourist hotel. After that, they began to destroy buildings and desecrate the shrine. Most of the monks and nuns were expelled, some were captured. Several priests killed. All crosses, chandeliers and other church utensils, whatever had any material value was stolen. The rest was burned.
Now these two monasteries are occupied by snipers militants because they are at higher elevations. In addition, we have noticed that the militants had a strange weapon that I had never seen before, I can not even describe it.
The Syrian General: "Sirens and shelters are ready for a possible attack" [in Russian]
It all started when a suicide car bomb drew up and exploded and killed a large number of soldiers in the army checkpoint in the city. After that, several dozen vehicles mounted with weapons entered the city. Foot militants walked alongside. The total number of militants was in the thousands, I could not count them, it seemed that all the forces were transferred to Maalula. When they entered the city, they shouted that will cleanse the earth of sinners. Their goal was to kill as many Christian inhabitants and blow up the maximum number of churches.
I would like to note that the media do not tell the one terrible fact: in the militants started checking people's passports and once saw a man's Christian name, he immediately shot him in the head and walked to the next resident.
Expert: extremists want to dispel the Christians around the world [in Russian]
Patriarch Kirill cautioned against infringing on the rights of Christians [in Russian]
I managed to escape only because during the attack, we were not far off the main highway in the city, where there was a bus, and the driver collected the maximum number of people and left. I was one of the lucky ones. We dressed in the most simple clothes; children and women were with us. A few hours later we learned that the highway was also captured.
All materials on "Syria: be there or not be a war?" read here [in Russian]
My tagline agrees with you.,..
There will be a purge of those tools. Count on it.
Marxists believe 'Government is God'.
Christianity poses the greatest threat to 'Government is God', so the masterminds of the global Marxist utopia are out to kill it.
Yes, Islam is the religion of peace. And, if you don’t believe that, they’ll kill you! That’s convincing!
Why blame Obama? The U.S. has been helping Muslims kill Orthodox Christians since the Clinton administration. The location has just change from the Balkans to the Levant. The U.S. already functioned as Al Qaeda's airforce in the Balkans, and got thanked for our help with 9/11. Bush didn't have the wit to change policy in the Balkans despite U.S. intelligence knowing about the ties betwen AQ and the KLA, and of course now that things are back in the hands of the left, the policy is being expanded.
It’s a very sad day when the former Soviet Union publishes more truth about current events than any of the ‘free’ world does
When they declare Jihad we should declare Crusade.
Great tagline. May I borrow it?
Why is it that the overwhelming majority of Americans don't recognize that this is the objective of Islamic extremists not just in the Middle East, but everywhere?
They are anti-Christ, just like leftists are anti-Christ. I believe the Islamists and communists are the two beasts of Revelation, and they are working together in service to the dragon. When they have been able to kill the world’s Christians they will turn on each other. Anybody still alive at that point will wish they were dead.
I’ve put lots of miles on it — but... Be My Guest!! ‘-)
Getting rid of Christianity is what Muslims want to do. Witness it right here with Obama forcing GAY MARRIAGE and ABORTION EVERYTHING down our throats! He’s just not using BULLETS......YET.
What a cool looking place.
Thank you; done.
Good question. Further, what American national interest is served by fighting on any side in a Syrian Civil War?
I would support a new Holy Crusade to protect the Christians in the Holy Land from militant Islam. That would be in American national interest and in the interest of the Western Civilization. Obviously, that is farthest of this administration's goals, and farthest from warmongers in Obama's loyal opposition like McCain. In this political environment we should stay home and pray, that is the best we can do.
Yes.
Very sad. In the US, the censorship of the news regarding the plight of the Christians in the Middle East is nearly complete. For example, the simple fact: Syrian Christians support Assad -- is fully concealed from the American population.
Ha. Good term. 10 years ago I could understand how the neocons appealed to conservatives. Today, it boggles the mind.
Done, thank you.
Please add me to your ping list..?
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