Armed men from Al-Qalaa, a predominantly Sunni Muslim village in western Syria, entered a predominantly Christian village on October 3, damaged property, and fired at houses. An Orthodox priest narrowly missed being shot.
Local sources told Aid to the Church in Need that the attack on Al-Suqaylabiyah began with an altercation between Christian and Muslim youths.
A previous attack on Al-Suqaylabiyah in March caused “widespread damage to homes, shops and cars,” the Associated Press reported at the time.