ISIS flag. (AP Photo)
Ishtartv.com
- cbn.com
11-11-2019
CBN News has learned Islamic
State gunmen in Syria opened fire on a car carrying Armenian Christian leaders
on Monday, killing two priests and wounding a deacon.
International Christian
Concern reports the attack on the vehicle took place as the three
church officials were traveling from the Syrian city of Qamishli to Deir
ez-Zor.
ISIS's official Amaq media outlet
claimed responsibility, saying, "Two Christian priests were killed today,
ISIS shot them down."
In addition, three nearly
simultaneous car bombings occurred in the city of Qamishli, which is well known
for its religious and ethnic diversity. One of the explosions occurred near a
Chaldean church.
The Armenian church leaders were
traveling to Deir ez-Zor to inspect an Armenian Catholic Church which has
suffered damage due to the Syrian conflict. Father Hanna Bidu, also known as
Father Abrahim Petoyan, was killed instantly during the attack. His son, known
as Father Hovsep Petoyan, reportedly succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
The deacon, Fati Sano from the Armenian al-Hassakeh Church, was wounded.
"(An) armed group at the
entrance of the Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor was targeting a car that was
carrying the father," reported the Assyrian Monitor for Human Rights.
"This armed group targeted and killed the priest and his father, while the
third person was injured. The Father and his companions were headed to Deir
ez-Zor city this Monday morning on a mission to follow the status of the
Armenian Catholic Church."
The incident was confirmed by the
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Video footage obtained by Hawar News shows
that the car used by the priests had a special tag in its front window which
acknowledged that it was traveling for business with the Armenian Catholic
Church. The video shows significant frontal damage to the vehicle, placing the
two front-seat occupants within a direct line of fire.
"Pastor of the Armenian
Catholic Community of Qamishli, Priest Hovsep Petoyan, and his father, Priest
Abraham Petoyan, were traveling in a vehicle en route to Deir ez-Zor when
terrorists opened gunfire on their car and killed them," the Armenian
Pressreported. "The Armenian Catholic priests were heading to inspect the
condition of the Catholic Church."
ISIS was officially declared
militarily defeated in Syria this past March. However, reprisal attacks
following the October death of ISIS leader al-Baghdadi in Syria were expected.
Turkey's invasion of northern Syria also prompted fears that it would allow
opportunities for ISIS militants to take advantage of the resulting chaos. This
is the first deadly incident since its military defeat in which ISIS has
successfully targeted church leaders in the Levant.
"Today's violence in
northern Syria and the targeting of Armenian leadership is a tragedy that
deeply wounds the region's entire Christian community," said Claire Evans,
ICC's regional manager for the Middle East. "Christians have long
warned that ISIS will seek every opportunity to continue its genocide against
religious minorities."
"Meanwhile, Turkey's actions
in the area have generated an environment of instability. Armenian Christians,
whose ancestors were killed by Turkey's genocide, find themselves caught
between violent actors across all of Syria," she continued. "We must
keep the Christian community of Syria in our prayers, and urge for an end to
this senseless conflict."
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