Millions more will flee Syria if IS captures key road
Islamic
State (IS) forces in Syria are threatening to capture a crucial road,
the loss of which could touch off a panic and the exodus of several
million refugees from government areas, in addition to the four million
who have already fled. IS fighters have advanced recently to within 35km
of the M5 highway , the only major route connecting government-held
territory in Damascus to the north and west of the country.
The
beginnings of the latest crisis for the government of President Bashar
al-Assad came with the capture by IS on 6 August of the strategically
placed, largely Christian town of al-Qaryatain. Since then, Islamist
units have advanced further west, capturing two villages closer to the
M5. The Syrian Army has so far failed to retake Qaryatain, where Isis
has demolished the St Elian monastery , parts of which were 1,500 years
old.
The majority of the 17 million Syrians still in the
country live in government-controlled areas now threatened by IS. These
people are terrified of IS occupying their cities, towns and villages
because of its reputation for mass executions, ritual mutilation and
rape against those not conforming to its extreme variant Islam.
Islamic
State (IS) forces in Syria are threatening to capture a crucial road,
the loss of which could touch off a panic and the exodus of several
million refugees from government areas, in addition to the four million
who have already fled. IS fighters have advanced recently to within 35km
of the M5 highway , the only major route connecting government-held
territory in Damascus to the north and west of the country.
The beginnings of the latest crisis for the government of President Bashar al-Assad came with the capture by IS on 6 August of the strategically placed, largely Christian town of al-Qaryatain. Since then, Islamist units have advanced further west, capturing two villages closer to the M5. The Syrian Army has so far failed to retake Qaryatain, where Isis has demolished the St Elian monastery , parts of which were 1,500 years old.
The majority of the 17 million Syrians still in the country live in government-controlled areas now threatened by IS. These people are terrified of IS occupying their cities, towns and villages because of its reputation for mass executions, ritual mutilation and rape against those not conforming to its extreme variant Islam.
The beginnings of the latest crisis for the government of President Bashar al-Assad came with the capture by IS on 6 August of the strategically placed, largely Christian town of al-Qaryatain. Since then, Islamist units have advanced further west, capturing two villages closer to the M5. The Syrian Army has so far failed to retake Qaryatain, where Isis has demolished the St Elian monastery , parts of which were 1,500 years old.
The majority of the 17 million Syrians still in the country live in government-controlled areas now threatened by IS. These people are terrified of IS occupying their cities, towns and villages because of its reputation for mass executions, ritual mutilation and rape against those not conforming to its extreme variant Islam.
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