EPA-EFE/YOUSSEF BADAWI
ISIS has taken more than 700 hostages in the Syrian province of Deir Ezzor, among them citizens of Western European and other states, the Russian state-run news agency TASS reported on October 17 citing a military diplomatic source.
“Taking advantage of their impunity, the Islamic State militants carried out an attack on the refugee camp located near the populated locality of al-Bahra on October 13. As a result, they took hostage and transported about 130 Arab families to [the town of] Hajin which is under their control,” TASS quoted the source as saying.
According to the source, “among the ISIS hostages in that area are more than 700 people, including citizens of Western European and other countries.”
ISIS allegedly emands that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighting on the side of the US-led coalition release captured ISIS members and concede several territories on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River. ISIS will execute hostage every day until their demands are met, the source added.
The reported noted that ISIS had attacked a refugee camp while the SDF tried to launch an offensive with support from the US-led coalition. The source noted that the reason behind the SDF failute is multiple mistakes made by the US military coordinating the operation.
“Today’s incident in the settlement of Hajin is a good example of that. Because of unprofessional actions of US Air Force, a Kurdish unit that was trying to launch an offensive at ISIS, was subjected to airstrikes from two F-15 fighter jets from the coalition forces. Six Kurdish fighters died, and 15 more sustained serious injuries,” the source added.
According to the source, the offensive was thus disrupted, and ISIS took control of the area. The failure of the operation was exacerbated by mass desertion from the ranks of the SDF, the source added.
