An Armenian Catholic church in the largest city of Syria, Aleppo, was partially destroyed by bombing Islamist rebels. An attack has widely condemned the Armenian government.
The Church of St. Rita was hit by mortar shells Friday. Syrian pro-government media as well as local Armenians said the church was targeted by one of the Islamist militia for the defense of the Syrian army units loyal to President Bashar Al-Assad. No one was injured in the bombing. According to them, no one was injured.
Photographs posted by AlMasdarnews.com show gaping holes in the roof and walls, as well as the church’s rubble strewn around his altar. The Arab press service said the rebels also bombed the surrounding neighborhoods.
The damaged church is at the top of the water wells used by the Syrian Armenians and other Christians in the city ravaged by war. The civil war continues in Syria has left many regions of Aleppo no running water.
Zarmig Boghigian, the editor of the Armenian magazine Aleppo Gandzasar, accused “terrorist groups” of deliberately targeting civilians and churches. “This area is not a front line,” stated Boghigian in a telephone interview with the Armenian service of RFE / RL (Azatutyun.am).
Armenia responded Saturday. “The international community must redouble its efforts to prevent such crimes against the civilian population, minorities and shrines,” said Tigran Balayan, spokesperson for the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement.
Claire © armenews.com