Three Car Bombs Explode in Assyrian Town in Syria – 50 Killed
12/12/15
(AINA) — Three car bombs exploded yesterday in the Assyrian town of Tel Tamar in the Hassaka province of Syria, killing 50 people and wounding 100. At least 4 Assyrians were killed. One of the bombs targeted a Kurdish field hospital, the other the Souk Al Jumla market square. Two of the Assyrians killed have been identified as George Ballo and Slivo Isaac. One of the other Assyrians killed was a doctor.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack.
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.
