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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| ISIS holds thousands on civilians hostage in Hasakah |
| 2016-01-27 |
| HASAKAH – The Islamic State (ISIS) radical group has imposed a siege on the city of Shaddadi in Syria’s northeastern province of Hasakah, in a bid to prevent civilians from leaving the city, local sources reported on Tuesday. Shaddadi is considered the main bastion for ISIS militants in Hasakah province. “Nobody is allowed to leave the city. Anyone who tries to reach Shaddadi’s suburbs is being beaten and arrested by Daesh,” said Hammoud Hussein, a lawyer based in Shaddadi city. “Civilians in Shaddadi are held hostage by Daesh terrorists. People are running out of food and other basic supplies,” Hussein told ARA News, using an Arabic acronym for ISIS. This comes as the western-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) started a battle for Shaddadi, aimed at regaining the city after more than two years of ISIS control over it. “People are afraid of being used by Daesh are human shields against the SDF bombardment and western airstrikes,” Hussein reported. Backed by the U.S.-led coalition’s air cover, Kurdish-Arab alliance of the SDF has earlier liberated more than 240 towns and villages in Hasakah province subsequent to battles against ISIS. Recapturing Shaddadi would be deemed as cleansing the entire province from ISIS militants. |
| Posted by:badanov |