A Valley At WarThe Orontes River valley, where Sunnis and Alawites lived in harmony for generations, illustrates Syria's emerging sectarian divide. Guided Tour Explore Aziziya Jabb al-Ahmar Jawreen Serjeh Kansafra Kafr Nabal Huweiz Al Tamana al Ghab Qabr Fida Maarat al-Numan Al-Bara Qalaat Al-Moudiq Sqelbiya Wadi al-Deif Serjeh Suqur al-Sham, a rebel brigade with Islamist ideology led by Abu Issa, is based here. The group sometimes coordinates with Jamal Maarouf's Martyrs of Syria Brigade, featured in Syria Behind the Lines. Kansafra Rebels pushed the Syrian army from this Sunni village to the other side of the Orontes River in 2012, but the army routinely fires shells and mortars at the rebel stronghold. Kansafra is the hometown of Ahmad, a rebel soldier featured in Syria Behind the Lines. Kafr Nabal Residents of this town, sometimes called the "conscience of the revolution," have garnered attention for their cheeky protest signs. Often sarcastic and laden with pop culture references, the signs are sometimes written in English and intended for an international audience. More can be found on a town Facebook page. Huweiz What used to be a fertile ground for farmers is now a virtual no-man's land, just 400 meters from a Syrian Army checkpoint. Al-Tamana

al-Ghab This Sunni village stands largely empty after residents fled from escalating tensions with fighters in Aziziya, after which pro-government forces took over in 2012. A regime checkpoint directly overlooks the village, as shown in Syria Behind the Lines. Qabr Fida Most of the residents of this Sunni village have left the area, although it is unclear whether they were displaced violently or fled, according to Syria researcher Patrick Johnson. Today regime soldiers patrol the area, as shown in Syria Behind the Lines. Maarat

al-Numan Located on the Homs-Aleppo highway, neighborhoods in this Sunni city have been besieged by months of air raids and shelling, and most residents have fled for other areas. al-Bara Known as one of Syria's "dead cities," al-Bara holds a half dozen ancient churches and monasteries, as well as two pyramidal tombs. Before the war, the town attracted tourists; it now attracts Sunni refugees fleeing more dangerous areas and has been attacked by regime jets, as witnessed by FRONTLINE filmmaker Olly Lambert in 2012. Qalat al-Moudiq Qalat al-Moudiq was once a Roman temple city called Apamea, and until recent violence, was an important tourist site. Today it is in rebel-held territory, but the regime has dug itself into this castle atop a hill. Its 12-century citadel has been shelled by the regime. Aziziya Almost all of the villagers in Aziziya are Alawite, a religious sect loosely rooted in Shia Islam. In Aziziya, most men are away fighting in President Bashar al-Assad's security forces. With rebel-held Sunni villages just two miles away, Aziziya is protected by government checkpoints, including a platoon featured in the film commanded by Lt. Ali Ghazi. Jabb

al-Ahmar An Alawite town surrounded by Sunni villages, many of its Alawite residents fled in 2012, but have since returned. Jawreen An Alawite town surrounded by Sunni villages, most residents have fled and the town is reportedly under rebel control today. Sqelbiya Residents of this Christian town, which rebels say houses Syrian army units, have been pressured to take sides in the conflict. Christians make up 10 percent of Syria's population. Wadi al-Deif A major launching point for artillery attacks, this Syrian Army base also protects the regime's main supply route from Damascus to Aleppo. Most civilians in nearby cities have fled the area. To date, rebels have been unsuccessful in their attempts to take over the base, as seen in Syria Behind the Lines. Serjeh Kansafra Kafr Nabal Huweiz Al Tamana al Ghab Qabr Fida Maarat al-Numan Al-Bara Qalaat Al-Moudiq Aziziya Jabb al-Ahmar Jawreen Sqelbiya Wadi al-Deif