Al-Nusra destroys churches, desecrates cemeteries in Latakia

PanARMENIAN.Net - Al-Nusra Front has destroyed the churches of Syrian village of Ghnemye in Latakia’s north, Arevelk cited one of the residents as saying.

Upon returning to the town, the resident found his home demolished.

“The Armenian and Evangelical churches of the village have been completely destroyed, with cemeteries desecrated,” Arevelk said.

Anti-government protests developed into a civil war that four years on has grown 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 11,5 million others have been forced from their homes, of whom four million have fled abroad - including growing numbers 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.