The clashes between Free Syrian Army fighters and al-Qaeda backed extremist rebels are becoming more frequent and violent, with the disunity giving Assad’s forces an advantage.
On June 23, Father Francois Murad, 49, “died when he was shot inside his church” in the Christian village of al-Ghassanieh, near Jebel Akrad in Latakia province with the town under the control of extremist group Jabhat al-Nusra. Priests are becoming targets in the Syrian civil war.
The violence in Syria has triggered an increasing internal migration in the areas affected by the conflict, mirroring broader divisions in society with groups on both sides fearing genocide.
Is arming the rebels in Syria a way to balance the conflict and reduce sectarianism and radicalisation within the rebel ranks, or will it open a Pandora’s box in the Middle East?
As the conflict in Syria becomes increasingly sectarian and external powers, both local and international, begin to become more involved, the people of Syria are being caught in the cross-fire.