ASIA/SYRIA - The jihadists retreat from the villages on the river Khabur, leaving destroyed crosses and vandalized churches

Tuesday, 26 May 2015

Hassaké (Agenzia Fides) - The jihadi militias of the Islamic State (IS) retreated from the villages along the river Khabur, in the northeastern Syrian province of Jazira, which they had occupied on February 23, forcing the mass exodus of the local population, formed mostly by Assyrian Christians. Local sources confirm to Agenzia Fides that the retreat of the militia of the IS was caused by the intensification of air strikes carried out by US-led coalition forces against the positions of the jihadists, in support to the counter-offensive carried out by Kurdish militias. Military Kurdish and Assyrian formations entered the abandoned villages and reported to local sources that they found churches which were devastated and houses looted, with destroyed crosses and anti-Christian slogans painted on the walls.
According to Agency Ara News, a part of the Assyrian families who had found refuge in Hassaké have already returned to the villages of Tel Tamar, where the bell of the Assyrian church has been restored. While uncertainty remains about the fate of more than 230 Christian that the militiamen of the IS took hostage during their offensive in the Khabur valley, taking them to their strongholds. (GV) (Agenzia Fides 26/05/2015)


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