Syrian militants pushed out of Ma’loula

The Syrian government has taken the Christian city of Ma’loula, RIA Novosti reports.

The city was under control of the Al-Nusra Front. The organization attacked the St. Thecla Monastery. Part of the nuns and their head Pelagia were taken hostage.

The rebels took the city over in September 2013 and controlled it for several days. The majority of the 3,300 people populating the city left it.