By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (Worthy News)-- Eighty Christians were killed and thousands more displaced after Islamic militants attacked the strategic Syrian town of Kessab near the Turkish border on March 21, according to Barnabas Aid.
About 2,000 Armenian Christians fled Kessab as their homes were looted and their churches desecrated. Barnabas Aid partners are providing food, clothing and other essentials since many hurriedly left their homes empty-handed.
Following the Islamist takeover of the town, Syria launched a counter-offensive to regain control of the region. But national tensions increased after the Turkish military shot down a Syrian jet that had strayed over the border during a mission over Kessab.
Turkey has sided with the Islamist rebels in the Syrian civil war, providing them with supplies and allowing hundreds of rebels to freely cross its borders.
The Armenian National Committee of America has written President Barack Obama calling on him to stop Turkey -- a member of NATO -- from facilitating attacks by foreign fighters associated with US-designated terrorist groups.
The ANCA said Turkey's actions were a bitter reminder of the Armenian genocide (1894 to 1923) when Turks killed more than 1.5 million Armenian and Assyrian Christians.