Unconfirmed Reports of the Release of All Assyrians Held By ISIS

(AINA) — Sources in Hasaka are reporting that ISIS has released all the Assyrians it had captured when it attacked Assyrian villages on the Khabur River on February 23. But AINA could not verify these reports. If the hostages have been released, they are still in ISIS held territory and have not yet reached Hasaka, the most likely destination.ISIS captured between 262 and 373 Assyrians in its initial attacks on the 35 Assyrian villages on the river.

See attacks on Assyrians in Syria.

ISIS released 19 of the 21 Assyrians captured from the Village of Tel Goran on March 1, and the remaining 2 on March 3. In an interview with AINA, one of the Assyrians released by ISIS said they were told they could not return to their villages, if they did they would be killed (AINA 2015-03-05).

On February 23 ISIS attacked the Assyrian villages of Tel Goran, Tel Hurmiz, Tel Tamar, Tel Baloaa Tel Shamiran, Tel Riman, Tel Nasra, Tel Khareta, Tel Jazira, Tel Fweidat, Qaber Shamiyeh and Abu Tena.

Nine Assyrian fighters died defending their villages in the initial attacks and there are reports that ISIS has executed at least 12 Assyrian fighters who were captured, two of them women.

The majority of the Assyrians were captured from Tel Shamiran, Tel Hurmiz, Tel Goran and Tel Jazira.

© 2015 Assyrian International News Agency.