Video - Ancient Syria's Christian village freed from jihadist siege .

Ancient Syria's Christian village freed from jihadist siege - military to RT. HT: RussiaToday.

The village of Maaloula, to the west of Damascus, a major symbol of Christianity in the region, has been freed from rebel extremist control, RT’s correspondent reports from Syria, citing the country’s military.

The news comes from RT’s Maria Finoshina, currently based in Syria, who has been trying to verify the information.

On Saturday Finoshina and her crew became caught in crossfire at Maaloula as government forces were on a mission to force Al-Nusra Front rebels out of the village.

The Al-Qaeda-affiliated fighters carried out several attacks on Maaloula since last Wednesday, having by Sunday gained control over the village.

Maaloula – a mountain village of 2,000 residents, 60km northeast of Damascus - is a major pilgrimage destination for Christians from around the world.

It’s home to some of the most ancient Orthodox Christian relics and is also one of the very few places in the world where people still speak Aramaic, a biblical-era language that Jesus is believed to have spoken.

“It’s hard to believe that what used to be one of the most significant shrines of the Christian community all over the world is a battlefield now,” Maria Finoshina reported from the village on Saturday, her voice occasionally drowned out by the sound of gunfire.

Update:
             Patriarch Gregorius: Christians shot and forced to flee Syrian village of Maaloula