Syrian rebels shoot their way into Northern towns along Syria's coast.
Online video shows the province of Latakia under siege.
The Central Valley Armenian community is horrified.
"Personally I have two sisters about 18 nieces and nephews and they're all gone."
People who call Fresno home say their relatives were forced to flee from the coastal resort town
of Kessab by Al Qaeda forces.
of Kessab by Al Qaeda forces.
"My cousin was telling me if we turned back just to gran a few items, we
would have been dead," said Paul Sarimazian.
would have been dead," said Paul Sarimazian.
Communities burned to the ground as tanks moved in.
Many are now feared dead.
Others were lucky to escape with their lives, something their ancestors have dealt with
before.
before.
The attacks come on the heels of the 100 year anniversary of the Ottoman Turks killing as many as 1.5 million Armenians in 1915.
It was that genocide that brought so many to the Central
Valley.
It was that genocide that brought so many to the Central
Valley.
"A lot of those people had to flee the area and had immigrated and live in the San
Joaquin Valley in Fresno in particular because they are involved in
agriculture," said Rosie Bedrosian of the Armenian Relief Society.
Joaquin Valley in Fresno in particular because they are involved in
agriculture," said Rosie Bedrosian of the Armenian Relief Society.
They are now demanding swift action from President Obama to stop the violent
attacks.
attacks.
"If the U.S. is the big brother to the world they need to put NATO partnerships aside and they
need to be able to provide assistance and put ends to all these useless wars,"
said Sarimazian.
need to be able to provide assistance and put ends to all these useless wars,"
said Sarimazian.
Their biggest fears are genocide and an eviction from the place these Christians have called
home for centuries.
home for centuries.