Christian neighborhood shelled in Aleppo; city may fall to Islamic State

April 14, 2015

Syrian rebels fired rockets at a Christian neighborhood in Aleppo, the nation’s largest city, on the night of April 10-11.

As efforts to bring about a ceasefire in Aleppo collapsed, Christians in the city reported that the Syrian regime might be preparing to pull back, leaving the city vulnerable to the forces of the Islamic State.

The Syrian Observer reported that 11 Christians perished in the attack, while the Virginia-based Barnabas Fund, an evangelical Christian organization, put the number at 29. Among the confirmed victims was Safouh al-Mosleh, the director of Caritas in Syria. He had reportedly returned to check his home, after his family had been evacuated, and perished when the building was hit by artillery shelling.

“Our Easter feast has turned to grief,” a woman religious in Aleppo wrote to Aid to the Church in Need. “Some people woke up to find themselves without a home and others did not see the life died under the rubble because they were victims of violence.”

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Sulaimaniyah's Christian District Shelled in Aleppo (Syrian Observer)
• 29 Syrian Christians killed in Aleppo during violent onslaught after threat from Turkey in approach to anniversary of Armenian genocide (Barnabas Fund)
• Caritas operator dies in the bombing in Aleppo (Fides)
• April Report of the Security Council