Syria’s predominantly Armenian-populated town of Kessab was emptied after rebel forces attacked the region in a bid to control strategic points in the area.

Kessab was under fire over the past several days from gunmen entering the region from the Turkish border. By Saturday, most of the town’s population had taken refuge in Latakia, The Armenian Weekly reported.

According to reports, Kessab and its surrounding villages are now largely under the control of rebels.

“According to a military source, units of the armed forces have since morning been directing fatal strikes to the terrorist groups which infiltrated the border from Turkey in Kassab area, inflicting heavy losses upon them,” reported the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on Sunday.

Perched in the northwestern corner of Syria, near the border with Turkey, Kessab had, until very recently, evaded major battles between the army and rebels. Many Syrian Armenians had taken refuge there because of the relative calm in the area over the past three years.