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Kurdish forces continued their fight with the Islamic State in eastern Syria on Tuesday, 24 hours after the jihadists took villages and abducted dozens of Assyrian Christians.
Clashes were reported near Tal Hamis in Hasakeh Province, with the Kurdish militia YPG trying to cut a road linking jihadist units.
On Monday, the Islamic State attacked a series of villages from Tal Shamiran to Tal Hurmiz along the Khabur River, burning churches and taking civilians. Women and children were reportedly separated from the men as the Islamic State sought a prisoner exchange with local Kurdish groups. Other residents fled east to Hasakeh city and took shelter in churches.
Karam Dola, a member of the Assyrian Democratic Organization, said at least 13 people were abducted in Tal Hurmiz and up to 90 in Shamiran.
Dola, estimating that about 600 Assyrian families are in the area, said 34 villages on the banks of the Khabur River have been evacuated.
Syrian State media has joined the concern for the abducted civilians, claiming from “local sources” that at least 56 people have been kidnapped and quoting a local woman’s fear that an “unknown and terrifying fate awaits hundreds of families”.
Kurdish media center footage of their forces fighting the Islamic State:
Report: Rebels Start New Offensive in Idlib Province
Reports and images indicate that rebels have started a new offensive against regime positions in Idlib Province in northwest Syria.
The rebels are reportedly attacking al-Fu’ah and Kafarya with rockets and missiles. Heavy clashes are reported in the area.
One of the missile strikes on Kafarya:
Rebels also attacked al-Fu’ah, northeast of Idlib city, two weeks ago.
