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Videos Show Mass Killing of Captives by ISIS in Syria Videos Show Mass Killing of Captives by ISIS in Syria
(34 minutes later)
BAGHDAD — Fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria have killed more than 100 Syrian soldiers they captured after seizing an airbase in the northeastern part of the country, according to activists who track casualties in the Syrian conflict and an ISIS fighter who was reached through the Internet.BAGHDAD — Fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria have killed more than 100 Syrian soldiers they captured after seizing an airbase in the northeastern part of the country, according to activists who track casualties in the Syrian conflict and an ISIS fighter who was reached through the Internet.
The mass killing marked a dark end to the battle for control of the Taqba air base in Raqqa Province. The insurgents seized the base on Sunday after the deadliest fighting so far between ISIS and the government forces.The mass killing marked a dark end to the battle for control of the Taqba air base in Raqqa Province. The insurgents seized the base on Sunday after the deadliest fighting so far between ISIS and the government forces.
Video images posted on Thursday showed a group of men, stripped down to their underewear, being marched through the desert to a patch of sand, where they were gunned down, the ISIS fighter said. Whether the men shown in the video were the captured Syrian soldiers or other victims of the group could not be immediately confirmed. Video images posted on Thursday showed a group of men, stripped down to their underwear, being marched through the desert to a patch of sand, where they were gunned down, the ISIS fighter said. Whether the men shown in the video were the captured Syrian soldiers or other victims of the group could not be immediately confirmed.
The video images surfaced on the same day that Syrian rebel fighters captured 43 United Nations peacekeepers near the demarcation line between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, after heavy fighting in the area between non-ISIS rebel fighters and government troops.The video images surfaced on the same day that Syrian rebel fighters captured 43 United Nations peacekeepers near the demarcation line between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, after heavy fighting in the area between non-ISIS rebel fighters and government troops.
ISIS has often distributed graphic images of its dead foes as it has stormed through northern Iraq and seized Mosul, the country’s second-largest city. But even by the group’s usual brutal standards, the video images of jihadist fighters taunting humiliated, nearly naked captives as they were led to their deaths were horrifying, sending shock waves through Syrian communities that have stood by President Bashar al-Assad through more than three years of civil war.ISIS has often distributed graphic images of its dead foes as it has stormed through northern Iraq and seized Mosul, the country’s second-largest city. But even by the group’s usual brutal standards, the video images of jihadist fighters taunting humiliated, nearly naked captives as they were led to their deaths were horrifying, sending shock waves through Syrian communities that have stood by President Bashar al-Assad through more than three years of civil war.
Compounding the reaction were apparent attempts by the government to play down the loss of the base. The state news agency, SANA, reported on the day the base fell that troops there had withdrawn and regrouped, and were fighting successfully nearby.Compounding the reaction were apparent attempts by the government to play down the loss of the base. The state news agency, SANA, reported on the day the base fell that troops there had withdrawn and regrouped, and were fighting successfully nearby.
The next day, Walid al-Moallem, Syria’s foreign minister, made only a brief reference to the battle in an hourlong interview, conceding that the base had been lost but claiming that all troops and aircraft had been successfully withdrawn.The next day, Walid al-Moallem, Syria’s foreign minister, made only a brief reference to the battle in an hourlong interview, conceding that the base had been lost but claiming that all troops and aircraft had been successfully withdrawn.
Anger erupted on Thursday after a normally pro-government Facebook page dedicated to the soldiers stationed at the base posted one video of the captured men being marched through the desert, and another that showed their bodies — more than 120 of them — lying in a long line.Anger erupted on Thursday after a normally pro-government Facebook page dedicated to the soldiers stationed at the base posted one video of the captured men being marched through the desert, and another that showed their bodies — more than 120 of them — lying in a long line.
“Stop circulating false news,” wrote one commenter under the name Zahraa al-Hassan, referring to the government’s statements about the battle. “They are driving our soldiers like a herd of sheep,” the commenter said, adding that the Assad government was "a filthy failure that has destroyed the country’s trees and people and allowed ISIS to rise.” “Stop circulating false news,” wrote one commenter under the name Zahraa al-Hassan, referring to the government’s statements about the battle. “They are driving our soldiers like a herd of sheep,” the commenter said, adding that the Assad government was “a filthy failure that has destroyed the country’s trees and people and allowed ISIS to rise.”
Many comments posted on the site assailed Gen. Fahd Jassem al-Freij, the defense minister, who retained his post in a new cabinet announced on Wednesday despite the loss of three important military facilities to ISIS fighters in little more than a month.Many comments posted on the site assailed Gen. Fahd Jassem al-Freij, the defense minister, who retained his post in a new cabinet announced on Wednesday despite the loss of three important military facilities to ISIS fighters in little more than a month.
An illustration posted on the page sarcastically addressed Mr. Assad’s press office, saying it had promised to “do everything necessary to follow up on the shortcomings that have led to the loss of a number of areas and a large number of martyrs for the homeland.”An illustration posted on the page sarcastically addressed Mr. Assad’s press office, saying it had promised to “do everything necessary to follow up on the shortcomings that have led to the loss of a number of areas and a large number of martyrs for the homeland.”
Many Syrians have stood by Mr. Assad through the conflict, because they see him as a symbol of the state or they fear that the rebels who are trying to topple him will destroy the country. Many members of Syria’s Alawite minority believe that their survival depends on Mr. Assad, because the extremist elements of the rebellion consider Alawites to be infidels and hold the entire group responsible for Mr. Assad’s actions.Many Syrians have stood by Mr. Assad through the conflict, because they see him as a symbol of the state or they fear that the rebels who are trying to topple him will destroy the country. Many members of Syria’s Alawite minority believe that their survival depends on Mr. Assad, because the extremist elements of the rebellion consider Alawites to be infidels and hold the entire group responsible for Mr. Assad’s actions.
Still, worry has grown among government supporters as the war has dragged on and as ISIS has gained strength and territory with little interference from the Syrian Army.Still, worry has grown among government supporters as the war has dragged on and as ISIS has gained strength and territory with little interference from the Syrian Army.
The apparent brutal coda to the battle for the Taqba air base was likely to raise further complaints about Mr. Assad’s prosecution of the war.The apparent brutal coda to the battle for the Taqba air base was likely to raise further complaints about Mr. Assad’s prosecution of the war.
The Syrian government did not comment on the killing of its captured soldiers.The Syrian government did not comment on the killing of its captured soldiers.
Videos posted online by ISIS supporters gave glimpses of the captives’ final hours. In one, the prisoners are seen running in a long line through a stretch of desert as bearded ISIS fighters laugh and herd them like sheep.Videos posted online by ISIS supporters gave glimpses of the captives’ final hours. In one, the prisoners are seen running in a long line through a stretch of desert as bearded ISIS fighters laugh and herd them like sheep.
“The state of Islam!” the fighters yell, a common ISIS slogan, and the soldiers reply, “It remains.”“The state of Islam!” the fighters yell, a common ISIS slogan, and the soldiers reply, “It remains.”
Another video shows scores of captured men lying on the concrete floor of a large room while one is questioned by ISIS fighters who are off camera.Another video shows scores of captured men lying on the concrete floor of a large room while one is questioned by ISIS fighters who are off camera.
“How many people have you killed?” the fighters ask. “How many have you raped?” The captive soldier shakes his head and says, “No one.”“How many people have you killed?” the fighters ask. “How many have you raped?” The captive soldier shakes his head and says, “No one.”
When he tells the interrogators that he is an Alawite, they insult him and say, “We’ll return you to hell, God willing.”When he tells the interrogators that he is an Alawite, they insult him and say, “We’ll return you to hell, God willing.”
A Lebanese ISIS fighter who was reached through the Internet and gave his name only as Yousef said that the men seen dead in the video were part of a column of troops that came to the area in an attempt to rescue soldiers who had fled the air base.A Lebanese ISIS fighter who was reached through the Internet and gave his name only as Yousef said that the men seen dead in the video were part of a column of troops that came to the area in an attempt to rescue soldiers who had fled the air base.
“We ambushed them and arrested them,” he said.“We ambushed them and arrested them,” he said.
Yousef said the ISIS fighters made the men run in the desert to tire them out, and then locked them in a room where they were beaten.Yousef said the ISIS fighters made the men run in the desert to tire them out, and then locked them in a room where they were beaten.
“Then we took them out and shot them,” he said.“Then we took them out and shot them,” he said.
Yousef said he had also taken part in an earlier round of killings of captured government soldiers. He said those captives had begged for mercy but were refused because of all the people Mr. Assad’s forces have killed.Yousef said he had also taken part in an earlier round of killings of captured government soldiers. He said those captives had begged for mercy but were refused because of all the people Mr. Assad’s forces have killed.
“They were not merciful, so why should I be?” he said.“They were not merciful, so why should I be?” he said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition group that tracks casualties in Syria, said that more than 120 captured soldiers had been killed by ISIS since Wednesday, including 60 who fled the air base and were surrounded by ISIS in a different area. A spokesman for the group said it did not know whether the dead men seen in the video images were soldiers.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition group that tracks casualties in Syria, said that more than 120 captured soldiers had been killed by ISIS since Wednesday, including 60 who fled the air base and were surrounded by ISIS in a different area. A spokesman for the group said it did not know whether the dead men seen in the video images were soldiers.
In southern Syria, rebels and government forces have been clashing fiercely in the area near the demarcation line that is monitored by the United Nations peacekeepers, especially around Quneitra, the only border crossing between Syria and the Israeli-held territory. On Wednesday, fighters from a number of Syrian rebel groups, including the Nusra Front, which is affiliated with Al Qaeda, wrested control of the crossing from Syrian government forces. ISIS fighters were not reported to be involved.In southern Syria, rebels and government forces have been clashing fiercely in the area near the demarcation line that is monitored by the United Nations peacekeepers, especially around Quneitra, the only border crossing between Syria and the Israeli-held territory. On Wednesday, fighters from a number of Syrian rebel groups, including the Nusra Front, which is affiliated with Al Qaeda, wrested control of the crossing from Syrian government forces. ISIS fighters were not reported to be involved.
The 43 peacekeepers seized in that area on Thursday are Fijians. The U.N. said in a statement that it was making every effort to secure the release of the captured peacekeepers. A number of Filipino peacekeepers from the same United Nations mission were held by rebels last year and later released unharmed.The 43 peacekeepers seized in that area on Thursday are Fijians. The U.N. said in a statement that it was making every effort to secure the release of the captured peacekeepers. A number of Filipino peacekeepers from the same United Nations mission were held by rebels last year and later released unharmed.
The Security Council issued a separate statement condemning the capture and demanding the immediate, unconditional release of the peacekeepers. It said they were abducted from the “area of separation” between Israeli and Syrian positions, where no other military forces should be present. It described the captors as members of “Security Council-designated terrorist groups” and “nonstate armed groups,” but did not name the groups.The Security Council issued a separate statement condemning the capture and demanding the immediate, unconditional release of the peacekeepers. It said they were abducted from the “area of separation” between Israeli and Syrian positions, where no other military forces should be present. It described the captors as members of “Security Council-designated terrorist groups” and “nonstate armed groups,” but did not name the groups.
Anti-government activists in the area who work with the rebels were not immediately available for comment.Anti-government activists in the area who work with the rebels were not immediately available for comment.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry issued a brief statement saying the government “holds the terrorist groups and the sides backing them fully responsible for the safety of the kidnapped soldiers and demands their immediate release.”The Syrian Foreign Ministry issued a brief statement saying the government “holds the terrorist groups and the sides backing them fully responsible for the safety of the kidnapped soldiers and demands their immediate release.”
Fighting continued in the border region on Thursday, as the Syrian government mounted airstrikes. It did not comment on the fighting or say whether any of its soldiers had been killed.Fighting continued in the border region on Thursday, as the Syrian government mounted airstrikes. It did not comment on the fighting or say whether any of its soldiers had been killed.
Besides Fijians and Filipinos, the United Nations force in the Golan Heights includes personnel from India, Ireland, Nepal and the Netherlands. The force has been monitoring a cease-fire and military disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria in the area since 1974.Besides Fijians and Filipinos, the United Nations force in the Golan Heights includes personnel from India, Ireland, Nepal and the Netherlands. The force has been monitoring a cease-fire and military disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria in the area since 1974.