From American Overlook

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Syrian rebels with ties to al-Qaeda attacked a Christian village in Syria, where they beheaded priests and savagely murdered civilians.

Rebels attacked the village of Maaloula, about 40 miles north of Damascus, Syria. The village is listed on UNESCO’s world heritage site and is famous for its ancient Christian heritage. Maaloula’s 2,000 residents speak the nearly forgotten language of Aramaic, which historians believe Jesus spoke, as well.

The rebels launched the attack on Sept. 4, and captured the Safir Hotel, a mountaintop hotel. A nun reported that the rebels are now using the hotel as their home base and will launch more attacks on the people of Maaloula over the next several days.

“It’s their home now,” the nun lamented.