Islamic State Group Takes 90 Assyrian Christians Hostage in Syria

Militant forces affiliated with the Islamic State group kidnapped 90 Assyrian Christians from a village in Syria on Tuesday, March 5. According to Reuters, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in London, reported that these Christians were abducted from a village in western Hasakah. Syrian Kurdish militia forces conducted attacks against ISIS on March 3, with the participation of Iraqi Kurdish forces and support from U.S. air operations. The Reuters report indicates that pushing back Islamic State forces from the Kurdish region of Syria is strategically important. The Kurdish area of Syria is a border region controlled by this group with Iraq, where they have carried out persecution and massacres against Yazidis. Historically, Hasakah has been home to Assyrian Christians. Last year, Islamic State forces also kidnapped several Assyrian Christians, most of whom were released after lengthy negotiations. Military experts say that following military pressures on this 'Islamic State' and their retreat from Kobani, the group has attempted to open another front in Syria. Retired Jordanian Army General Faiz Dweiri told Reuters, 'The Islamic State has lost several areas and therefore wants to open new conflict fronts.' Kurdish militia forces, supported by other military groups, are fighting against Islamic State forces, which have designated Raqqa in Syria as their headquarters. One resident of Hasakah told Reuters that a large number of refugees have headed to this area in recent days.