Syrian state television announced on Thursday, April 19, that the Islamic State group (ISIS) has kidnapped 300 workers from a cement factory in northeastern Damascus. ISIS began its attack on Syrian government forces in the area on Monday of this week. According to Reuters, Syrian television cited the country's Ministry of Industries, stating that these workers were employed at a cement factory in the city of 'Dmeir', and contact with their employer has been cut off. Following consecutive defeats from the Syrian army in recent weeks and the loss of the city of Palmyra, ISIS launched an attack on the city of Dmeir, located 50 kilometers east of Damascus, this week. Residents of the city reported that ISIS forces stormed this cement factory outside Dmeir on Monday, and since then, the workers have gone missing. The new clashes come just before a new round of peace negotiations between Bashar al-Assad's government and Western-backed opposition in Geneva. The Islamic State group and the al-Nusra Front have not been invited to these negotiations. One resident of the city stated: 'Since Monday afternoon, after the ISIS attack, we have been unable to contact our relatives and have no information about their whereabouts.' The eastern part of Dmeir is under ISIS control, while the western part is held by other rebel forces; however, some key points, including a military airport and a power station, are under government control. Human rights observers in Syria, based in London, reported that heavy fighting is ongoing in this city, but the jihadists have not made significant progress. Rami Abdulrahman, the head of these observers, added: 'The most violent clashes have occurred near the airport and power station, but ISIS has not yet entered these areas.' Since Monday, when it began its attacks, the group has captured five locations previously held by government forces, including two checkpoints. So far, 20 Syrian army soldiers and 35 ISIS-affiliated rebels have been killed in these attacks.
Syrian TV: ISIS has kidnapped 300 workers from a cement factory
ISIS has kidnapped 300 workers from a cement factory in Dmeir, Syria, amid renewed attacks on government forces. This incident highlights the ongoing violence and instability in the region, particularly as peace negotiations are set to resume. The situation underscores the challenges faced by the Syrian government and the humanitarian crisis affecting civilians.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
ISIS has kidnapped 300 workers from a cement factory in Dmeir, Syria, during an attack on government forces. This incident reflects the ongoing violence and instability in the region as ISIS attempts to regain territory.
- The kidnapping occurred after ISIS launched an attack on government forces in Dmeir.
- Heavy fighting continues in the area, with significant casualties reported on both sides.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Syria has been embroiled in a civil war since 2011, with various factions, including ISIS, vying for control. The conflict has led to a severe humanitarian crisis.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%