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Syrian army recaptures Aleppo's three Christian areas
August 23, 2012 - 21:39 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The Syrian army has recaptured Christian areas in
the city of Aleppo after heavy fighting with rebels, leaving streets
desolated and deserted apart from local youths on patrol, residents
said on Thursday, Aug. 23.
"We have had the worst two days of our lives," Sonia, the wife of a
wealthy businessman in the northern city which is also Syria's
commercial capital, said.
"If our house weren't built like a fortress, we'd all be dead. The
entrance is very badly damaged. We couldn't sleep all night," said the
resident of Telal, which the army seized on Wednesday along with
Jdeide and Sulamaniyeh. Aleppo residents reported heavy exchanges in
the heart of the city during the army's offensive to recapture the
three neighbourhoods seized by the rebels at the weekend.
Of the three Christian quarters in the historic Old City of Aleppo,
Jdeide and Telal were once frequented by tourists for their
restaurants and handicraft shops.
The rebel Free Syrian Army had also seized the nearby neighborhood of
Sulamaniyeh, most of whose inhabitants are Armenian Christians and
which is home to ancient monasteries and a Melkite Greek Catholic
cathedral.
The bishop of the cathedral on Farhat Square, left pockmarked by the
fighting, himself had to beat a hasty retreat before the rebels moved
in because of his pro-regime comments, another resident said,
according to AFP.
August 23, 2012 - 21:39 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The Syrian army has recaptured Christian areas in
the city of Aleppo after heavy fighting with rebels, leaving streets
desolated and deserted apart from local youths on patrol, residents
said on Thursday, Aug. 23.
"We have had the worst two days of our lives," Sonia, the wife of a
wealthy businessman in the northern city which is also Syria's
commercial capital, said.
"If our house weren't built like a fortress, we'd all be dead. The
entrance is very badly damaged. We couldn't sleep all night," said the
resident of Telal, which the army seized on Wednesday along with
Jdeide and Sulamaniyeh. Aleppo residents reported heavy exchanges in
the heart of the city during the army's offensive to recapture the
three neighbourhoods seized by the rebels at the weekend.
Of the three Christian quarters in the historic Old City of Aleppo,
Jdeide and Telal were once frequented by tourists for their
restaurants and handicraft shops.
The rebel Free Syrian Army had also seized the nearby neighborhood of
Sulamaniyeh, most of whose inhabitants are Armenian Christians and
which is home to ancient monasteries and a Melkite Greek Catholic
cathedral.
The bishop of the cathedral on Farhat Square, left pockmarked by the
fighting, himself had to beat a hasty retreat before the rebels moved
in because of his pro-regime comments, another resident said,
according to AFP.