“We are threatened by Daesh (ISIL) because of our religion,” said 22-year-old Hassan, a shopkeeper in Sadad. “They threaten the whole world. We are staying here to defend the town and prevent the tragedies and massacres that happened in other Christian villages from occurring here.”
Most women and children have fled and the town’s men have remained behind to battle the jihadists in a town that contains a number of ancient churches and historical relics and is believed to be the town of Zedad in the Old Testament’s “Book of Kings”.
“Around 60 percent of the 12,000 residents, particularly the women and children, have fled to other Christian villages in the province, like Fayruza and Yazdal,” said Suleiman Khalil, Sadad’s mayor.
“The men are staying behind to defend the town.”
ISIL fighters reached the town of Maheen, just 10 kilometers (6 miles) east of Sadad, on Nov. 1. Since then, the terrorists have launched dozens of mortar shells at Sadad, killing both civilians and local fighters.
Syrian regime forces had controlled the town after battling anti-Assad rebels in October 2013. ISIL began its assault in the region in 2014 and now controls several towns and villages in Homs province, including Palmyra, home to ancient ruins that have been razed by the terror group.
ISIL also controls the town of Al-Qaryatain, where the terrorists kidnapped hundreds of civilians including Christians, and blew up an ancient monastery.
“We are afraid of massacres but we are also afraid for our churches because the Islamic State group has already blown up religious monuments in areas it has captured,” a resident of Sadad told AFP.
A Syriac Christian militia called Sotoro, which is based in the northeastern province of Hasakeh, has deployed 250 fighters to assist Sadad in fighting ISIL.
“We’re here to defend all Syrians in general, and our Christian brothers in particular,” said 26-year-old Sotoro fighter Badie. “We are ready to repel any offensive.”
Sources said that Syrian army troops are stationed outside the town, and Russian forces are also present at an airport between Maheen and Sadad.
“The Russian advisers have been seen in town and some people have taken pictures with them as souvenirs,” one resident told AFP, holding up his own photo as evidence.
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http://www.worldtribune.com/women-and-children-flee-biblical-syrian-christian-town-men-remain-to-fight-isil/
