Syrian government troops have forced rebels out of the ancient Christian town of Maaloula. Find out more in this RIA Novosti photo chronicle.
© RIA Novosti . Andrei Stenin / Go to the mediabankGovernment forces have regained control of Syria’s oldest Christian town, Maaloula. It is one of the few places in the world where some residents can still speak Aramaic, the language Jesus Christ is believed to have spoken.
Government forces have regained control of Syria’s oldest Christian town, Maaloula. It is one of the few places in the world where some residents can still speak Aramaic, the language Jesus Christ is believed to have spoken.
© RIA Novosti . Andrei Stenin / Go to the mediabankMaaloula is a small town located 55 km (34 miles) north of Damascus at an altitude of more than 1,500 meters.
Maaloula is a small town located 55 km (34 miles) north of Damascus at an altitude of more than 1,500 meters.
© Sputnik / Andrei Stenin / Go to the mediabankThis picturesque mountain town, surrounded by vineyards and hermits’ caves, is an island of Christianity in Syria.
This picturesque mountain town, surrounded by vineyards and hermits’ caves, is an island of Christianity in Syria.
© RIA Novosti . Andrei Stenin / Go to the mediabankGovernment forces launched an attack to regain Maaloula on Sunday.
Government forces launched an attack to regain Maaloula on Sunday.
© RIA Novosti . Andrei Stenin / Go to the mediabankThe rebels entered Maaloula on Thursday and two days later forced government forces to withdraw.
Photo: Government troops sleep and load their weapons while their artillery is shelling the rebels’ positions.
Photo: Government troops sleep and load their weapons while their artillery is shelling the rebels’ positions.
The rebels entered Maaloula on Thursday and two days later forced government forces to withdraw.
Photo: Government troops sleep and load their weapons while their artillery is shelling the rebels’ positions.
Photo: Government troops sleep and load their weapons while their artillery is shelling the rebels’ positions.
© Sputnik / Andrei Stenin / Go to the mediabankThe military says the majority of residents have fled Maaloula.
The military says the majority of residents have fled Maaloula.
© RIA Novosti . Andrei Stenin / Go to the mediabankThe fighting was complicated by the fact that government troops are not permitted to open fire from tanks or artillery on religious buildings, regardless of whether they belong to the Christian or Muslim faiths.
The fighting was complicated by the fact that government troops are not permitted to open fire from tanks or artillery on religious buildings, regardless of whether they belong to the Christian or Muslim faiths.
© RIA Novosti . Andrei Stenin / Go to the mediabankThere are two unique monasteries in Maaloula – the Greek Orthodox Mar Thecla and Greek Catholic Mar Sarkis.
Photo: Government tank operators on the road to Maaloula.
Photo: Government tank operators on the road to Maaloula.
There are two unique monasteries in Maaloula – the Greek Orthodox Mar Thecla and Greek Catholic Mar Sarkis.
Photo: Government tank operators on the road to Maaloula.
Photo: Government tank operators on the road to Maaloula.
© RIA Novosti . Andrei Stenin / Go to the mediabankA tank operator gestures to show that running across a street that is under fire from rebels should only be attempted in pairs.
A tank operator gestures to show that running across a street that is under fire from rebels should only be attempted in pairs.
© RIA Novosti . Andrei Stenin / Go to the mediabankGovernment tank operators in the center of Maaloula.
Government tank operators in the center of Maaloula.
© RIA Novosti . Andrei Stenin / Go to the mediabankGovernment troops rest during artillery shelling of the rebels’ positions.
Government troops rest during artillery shelling of the rebels’ positions.