ISIS ‘could kill’ 150 christians abducted in Syria

The Islamic State may kill 150 abducted Assyrian Christians who were taken from Tal Tamer, a town in northeastern Syria on Tuesday.

ISIS was previously thought to have kidnapped 90 Assyrian Christians, but Osama Edward, founder of the Assyrian Human Rights Network, told CNN that the extremist group is now believed to have 150 hostages.

He added that the terrorist group was reportedly planning to release a message to Barack Obama and other members of the US-led coalition against ISIS on Wednesday, threatening to kill them.

“Maybe they are facing the same destiny. That’s why we call on all over the world, like the US, Europe, coalition forces – protect Assyrians, save Assyrians in Syria,” he said.

“They are facing death, people are unarmed, they are peaceful. And they need help, they are just left alone—no one’s protecting them.”

Edward, who has family in the area attacked by ISIS, also revealed that 35 Assyrian villages and towns had now been taken over by ISIS.

“Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently”, an activist organisation took to twitter to say ISIS has moved a number of Assyrian captives to its stronghold in Raqqa.

With about 600 families taking refuge in St. Mary’s Cathedral in al-Hasakah, Syria, the US has condemned the abduction in the strongest terms.

Habib Afram, president of the Syriac League in Lebanon, told the UK Guardian that the attacks are a threat to Christianity in the Region.

“This is another episode in the targeting to the Christians of the east…We are witnessing the end of the Christian presence in the east,” he said.

On a brighter side, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Wednesday that 132 ISIS militants were killed by airstrikes carried out by the US-led coalition and in battle with Syrian Kurdish fighters.