Islamic State takes dozens of hostages in surprise Syria desert attack

 

Islamic State fighters have kidnapped dozens of people in a surprise desert attack, their largest such operation for at least three years.

The group used motorbikes to storm a police station in the town of al-Saan, western Syria, on Tuesday, taking eight soldiers and police officers hostage, along with 11 civilians they believed to be informers for the Assad regime. As many as 46 others were captured but later released. At least one civilian was killed and several wounded.

The desert region was under Isis control until the Syrian army ousted the terrorists in September 2017. However, cells of Isis fighters have emerged in recent months to ambush buses carrying soldiers and have also carried out guerilla attacks across the border in Iraq.

Syria’s state

Source: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/islamic-state-takes-dozens-of-hostages-in-surprise-syria-desert-attack-gvlq6cnpg