Funeral Held for Assyrians Killed By ISIS Bombing in Syria
12/12/15
(AINA) — A combined funeral was held today in Tel Tamar, Syria for the 4 Assyrians who were killed by the triple ISIS suicide bombings yesterday. The deceased Assyrians have been identified as George Ballo, Slivo Isaac, Milia Tolo and Hisham Bato.
The death toll from the bombings is between 50 and 60, with over 100 wounded. The bombings targeted a hospital, a Kurdish security checkpoint and a street market.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the bombings.
Related: Attacks on Assyrians in Syria By ISIS and Other Muslim Groups
Tel Tamar is one of the 35 Assyrian villages on the Khabur river which were captured by ISIS on February 23, during which ISIS captured 253 hostages. It has released 120 of them and executed 3, leaving 120 still being held. The villages have been liberated but most of the 3,000 Assyrians who lived there have not returned, they have fled to Hasaka and Lebanon, with some reaching Germany, Australia and Sweden.
ISIS is also holding 185 Assyrians it captured in Qaryatain.
During its occupation of the Assyrian villages, ISIS destroyed all the churches in the villages, ransacked, looted and destroyed homes. A majority of the villages are uninhabitable. ISIS has warned the hostages it has released not to return to their villages else they will be killed.
© Assyrian International News Agency.
