Assad leaves Damascus to visit recaptured Christian town

Syrian President Bashar Assad on Sunday visited the ancient Christian town of Maaloula in the Kalamoun Mts., which the Syrian army recaptured from rebels last week. It was the second time in more than three years of civil war that Assad had left central Damascus. He toured historic Christian sites, including the 4th century Mar Sarkis, and accused the “terrorists” – his term for Islamist rebels – of damaging them