Syria Kurds liberate 14 Assyrian Christian villages

Syria Kurds liberate 14 Assyrian Christian villages –

Assyrian Christians, who had fled the unrest in Syria, attend a mass at the Saint Georges Assyrian Church in Jdeideh, northeast of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, April 3, 2015. (© AFP)

Press TV – Kurdish forces in Syria have managed to take control of 14 Assyrian Christian villages that had been held by the ISIL terrorists since February.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Wednesday that the Kurdish fighters engaged the terrorists in a ten-day operation to liberate the villages.

The terrorists in February attacked a number of Assyrian Christian villages along the Khabur River in the northeastern province of Hasakah. They also kidnapped hundreds of Assyrians. Reports say 210 hostages are still held by the terror group.

The ISIL raid forced thousands of Christians from their homes.

ISIL, abductions and ransom

Meanwhile, Osama Edward, the head of the Sweden-based Assyrian Network for Human Rights, said photos from the region showed a massive destruction of houses and churches in the liberated villages.

“Most people are afraid to return because they fear that ISIL booby-trapped their houses before fleeing,” he said.

In May, the Assyrian network said ISIL had demanded USD 22 million in ransom for the release of over 200 Assyrians abducted in Hasakah.