Kurdish militants, Armenians guard Syria's Al-Qamishli

PanARMENIAN.Net - One of the safest areas in Syria, Armenian-populated Al-Qamishli is being protected by Kurdish People's Defense Units (YPG), Arevelk reports.

The city hosts two Armenian centers, elementary and high schools of the Euphrates College, where the majority of students are Armenians. All costs get covered by ARF Van committee, the church and individuals, while some 200 young men ensure the safety of the centers. The latters carry special documents to make themselves known to other parties of the region, with benefactors taking care of the guards' food, clothing and other needs.

Anti-government protests developed into a civil war that four years on has come to a stalemate, with the Assad government, Islamic State, an array of Syrian rebels and Kurdish fighters all holding territory.

More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed and a million injured. Some 11 million others have been forced from their homes, of whom four million have fled abroad - including growing numbers of refugees who are making the dangerous journey to Europe.

Iran, Russia and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement are propping up the Alawite-led Assad government, while Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar back the more moderate Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the U.S., UK and France. Hezbollah and Iran have pro-Assad forces on the ground, while a Western-led coalition and Russia are carrying out air strikes.