Armenian death and injuries reported
ALEPPO— News on the Aleppo front, was discouraging over the weekend, as the city was subjected to repeated rocket attacks that left many dead and injured, among them Syrian Armenians.

 

Beginning on Saturday, rocket fire rained on various parts of Aleppo causing heavy damage and leaving many casualties.

According to Aleppo-based Armenian news agency Peria News, the focus of the attacks on Saturday was Nor Kiugh neighborhood of Aleppo, where as a result of rocket fire, Rahel Tavitian and Misak Barkev Boshgeuzian were killed. Boshgeuzian, who was born in 1963, was an active member of the Syrian Youth Organisation and the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Association.

Attacks continued in and around Aleppo, centering on Nor Kiugh, where rocket fire, coupled with explosions from improvised explosive devices (IED) caused havoc in the city. As a result of the attacks, Zareh Kahkedjian was injured. He is reportedly in stable condition.

The situation in Nor Kiugh continues to worsen as the attacks become incessant. Community leaders have cautioned residents to not leave their homes, unless it is an emergency, and to stay away from windows and balconies.

The rocket fire attacks by rebel forces continued well into Monday morning, causing severe structural damage, including Armenian churches, schools, the Armenian Community Center (Dikranian Hall), residents, businesses and stores.

Stepan Aroushian and Zareh Ghazarian were injured as a result of the attacks on Sunday and Monday. They are both reported to be in stable condition.

Syrian Army Advances Toward Kessab
The Syrian Army, late on Friday, advanced its position in the mainly-Armenian town of Kessab and according to Al Mayaddin TV, has neutralized the Jabal Nousri roadway used by Al Qaeda-affiliated terrorists, which seized the town in late March forcing the relocation of its citizens to Lattakia.

According to Al Mayadin, the Syrian Army has already seized a strategic hill, known as hill number 724. Those injured during the heavy fighting are being transported to Turkey.