Bishop Jallouf speaks of blocked roads after the scenes of chaotic exodus of recent days. 90% of the city “is in the hands of the rebels”, but “they do not touch any Christians.” Sources of in Damascus: for now “the situation is calm”, but the outlook is “very complicated” From Iran and Iraq they send militias to support Assad. Hundreds of dead.
Aleppo () – “Today the situation is a little calmer, the weather is better than other days. Yesterday they bombed the Holy Land school (in the photo) and caused very serious material damage, but there were people injured. Now the panorama It’s calmer, although people are still afraid of the Russian missiles falling on our heads,” he tells Mons. Hanna Jallouf, Franciscan, who since July 2023 has been apostolic vicar of Aleppo, a city symbol of the offensive of rebel groups and the opposition that has once again turned the spotlight on the Syrian conflict, latent for years, and have returned to international news. “The roads are blocked – the prelate continues – and no one can enter or leave,” following the scenes of chaotic exodus in recent days with the advance of anti-government militias and the withdrawal of President Bashar al-Assad’s army.
In the last few hours, continues Bishop Jallouf, “some small changes have also occurred: water and electricity seem to have returned, and in two days bread and fuel should also return. At this moment around 90% of the The city is under the control of rebels or anti-government militias, while the remaining 10% is in the hands of the Kurds, who may soon withdraw. “A problem – he explains – are the cemeteries, which are located in the border area between Kurds and rebels and it is difficult to bury the bodies. The temporary solution is to bury them in the land surrounding the vicariate, without making distinctions – he adds – and then, “When the situation has stabilized, they will be sent to the different burial sites.”
The vicar reserves a final comment for relations with the rebel groups that have taken over the city, whom he already knew, at least in part, from the years he spent in Idlib. “They treat us with respect – highlights Bishop Jallouf – and so far they have not touched any Christians, on the contrary. They have the order to respect our rites, our churches, even our clothes.” Institutional sources of in the capital, anonymous for security reasons, also report today that “the situation in Damascus is now calm”, the epicenter of the conflict is “Aleppo and northern Syria.” “From here we hear the news – he continues – and we hope that the situation will be resolved soon and for the better,” especially for the civilian population, although the outlook remains “very complicated.”
Meanwhile, Iranian-backed militias entered Syria overnight to fight in the north alongside the government army, in an attempt to repel the offensive launched by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) insurgents and allied factions. Dozens of Hashad al Shabbi fighters, joined by the Iraqi groups of Katian Hezbollah and Fatemiyoun, have joined the conflict, and there is strong fear that it will worsen, despite France’s request for de-escalation. United States and Germany. China expressed its support for Syria in its efforts to “return to stability,” as Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stressed at the daily briefing.
The White Helmets, an NGO dedicated to rescue operations close to the Syrian opposition, reported the deaths of at least 25 people in the northwest of the country as a result of airstrikes by fighters from the Syrian government and its Russian ally. Idlib, the rebel stronghold, suffered attacks, while from the capital President Assad, whose power had wavered for a few hours, promised to “crush” the insurgents’ offensive with the help of Tehran and Moscow (also engaged on the front). Ukrainian). The army claims the reconquest of several cities that the rebels had invaded in recent days. Kurdish forces, supported by Washington, have launched operations to evacuate civilians. In the governorates of Idlib, Aleppo and Hama (new objective of the offensive), there were 320 militiamen killed and dozens of vehicles destroyed, but that was not enough to stop the advance.
In recent days, one of the focal points of the clashes has been the Franciscan College of Aleppo, as the Christian NGO Pro Terra Sancta made known when reporting the developments of the last few hours. The food problem, the sources explain, is “one of the most difficult aspects of the possible evolution of the situation”, especially to “introduce and remove flour from Aleppo with the road blockades”, to which are added chronic electricity outages and lack of water. The evacuation of Aleppo over the weekend, in the face of the advance of anti-government groups, took place in a chaotic manner, accompanied by rumors that the army was losing the city “neighborhood after neighborhood.” “Now there is a shortage of food: there is almost no bread left, the quantities available are very limited. The same – concludes the Pro Terra Sancta report – happens with fuel.”
In a letter with information they sent to the Carmelite nuns of Aleppo – who together with the nuns of Mother Teresa of Calcutta have a residence where about 60 elderly people live – also report “three days of infernal fighting” in the city. After consulting with the apostolic vicar Mons. Hanna Jallouf, a Franciscan, they decided to stay, following the example of the priest who spent 10 years in Idlib “standing up to the rebels.” “We have not seen a single soul. Last night – say the Carmelites – was almost distressingly calm, after hellish days and nights. This morning [1 de diciembre, ndr.] There was no one on the streets and there were no cars in the city either. As the hours passed, the situation became more lively. But we live day by day, hour by hour.”
According to the nuns, “the ‘new government of Aleppo’ is not wasting time” and is simultaneously trying to “reassure the population.” This morning they went to the San Luis Hospital and told the nuns that they would not do anything to them.” While writing, the sisters talk about the “noise of the bombings and reprisals” and that is precisely “what we fear: what will they be like?” the next few days? We hope that there will not be too much violence or bloodshed.” Anne-Françoise de la Nativité’s testimony on behalf of her sisters concludes with the wish that “the Prince of Peace [Cristo] fill hearts with love, forgiveness and kindness, so that the world (especially regions and countries affected by war) may finally find the peace of God.”
Add Comment