Syria rebels seize Christian town Maalula: NGO, residents

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BEIRUT – Syrian rebels have taken control of the historic Christian town of Maalula, north of Damascus, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights watchdog and residents said on Sunday.

“Overnight, Syrian regime troops moved into the village, but rebel forces sent reinforcements and were able to take control of the entire town,” Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

A resident of the town, reached by phone, also confirmed that regime forces had withdrawn from the area and rebel forces were in control of Maalula.