Syria troops retake Christian town of Maalula
14 April 2014, 20:42 -- Syrian troops retook the ancient Christian town of Maalula from rebels Monday, a day after President Bashar al-Assad said the three-year old civil war was turning in his favor.
'The army has taken full control of Maalula and restored security and stability. Terrorism has been defeated in Qalamun,' a security official told, referring to the region in which Maalula is located, AFP reports.
After the town was captured by rebels, 13 nuns were seized from the Mar Takla Greek Orthodox convent and held by Al-Qaeda-affiliated fighters until a prisoner swap with the regime in March.
Maalula's fall comes a day after Assad said his government was gaining the upper hand in the conflict that began in March 2011 and has left more than 150,000 people dead.
'This is a turning point in the crisis, both militarily in terms of the army's achievements in the war against terror, and socially in terms of national reconciliation processes and growing awareness of the truth behind the (attacks) targeting the country,' state news agency SANA quoted the president as saying.
'The state is trying to restore security and stability in the main areas that the terrorists have struck,' said Assad, adding, 'we will go after their positions and sleeper cells later.'
Source: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_14/Syria-troops- retake-Christian-town-of-Maalula-5235/
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