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| ISIS Said to Kill 150 Syrian Captives in 2 Days, Videotaping the Horror | ISIS Said to Kill 150 Syrian Captives in 2 Days, Videotaping the Horror |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| BAGHDAD — Fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria have killed more than 150 captured soldiers in northern Syria in the last two days, a monitoring group said on Thursday. Video images posted online appeared to show the men being marched through the desert in their underwear by the extremists and then lying dead in the sand. | BAGHDAD — Fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria have killed more than 150 captured soldiers in northern Syria in the last two days, a monitoring group said on Thursday. Video images posted online appeared to show the men being marched through the desert in their underwear by the extremists and then lying dead in the sand. |
| The mass killing of the soldiers represented a dark end to the battle for control of the Tabqa air base in Raqqa Province. The insurgents seized the base on Sunday after the deadliest fighting so far between ISIS and government forces. | The mass killing of the soldiers represented a dark end to the battle for control of the Tabqa air base in Raqqa Province. The insurgents seized the base on Sunday after the deadliest fighting so far between ISIS and government forces. |
| The killings were reported 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 killings were reported 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. |
| As it has stormed through northern Iraq and seized Mosul, that country’s second-largest city, ISIS has often distributed graphic images of its dead adversaries, to enlarge its reputation and terrify its enemies. But even by the group’s usual brutal standards, the video of jihadist fighters taunting humiliated, nearly naked men as they were led to their death were horrifying, sending shock waves through Syrian communities that have stood by President Bashar al-Assad through more than three years of civil war. | As it has stormed through northern Iraq and seized Mosul, that country’s second-largest city, ISIS has often distributed graphic images of its dead adversaries, to enlarge its reputation and terrify its enemies. But even by the group’s usual brutal standards, the video of jihadist fighters taunting humiliated, nearly naked men as they were led to their death 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 air 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 air 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 news conference, conceding that the base had been lost but claiming that all troops and aircraft had withdrawn successfully. | The next day, Walid al-Moallem, Syria’s foreign minister, made only a brief reference to the battle in an hourlong news conference, conceding that the base had been lost but claiming that all troops and aircraft had withdrawn successfully. |
| Anger erupted on Thursday after administrators of a Facebook page dedicated to the soldiers stationed at the base posted one video of the 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 administrators of a Facebook page dedicated to the soldiers stationed at the base posted one video of the 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 claims. The commenter called the Assad government “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 claims. The commenter called the Assad government “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 address “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 address “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, government supporters have grown worried as the war has dragged on and as ISIS has gained strength and territory with little interference from the Syrian Army. The brutal coda to the battle for the Tabqa air base was likely to raise further complaints about Mr. Assad’s prosecution of the war. | Still, government supporters have grown worried as the war has dragged on and as ISIS has gained strength and territory with little interference from the Syrian Army. The brutal coda to the battle for the Tabqa 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, men who appear to be 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, men who appear to be 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, using a common ISIS slogan, and the men reply, “It remains.” | “The State of Islam!” the fighters yell, using a common ISIS slogan, and the men reply, “It remains.” |
| Another video shows scores of captives sitting on the concrete floor of a large room while one is questioned by ISIS fighters who are off camera. | Another video shows scores of captives sitting 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 military column that had come to the area in an attempt to rescue troops who had fled from 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 military column that had come to the area in an attempt to rescue troops who had fled from 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 soldiers 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. |
| The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition group that tracks casualties in Syria, said that more than 150 captured soldiers had been killed by ISIS since Wednesday. But the group’s director, Rami Abdulrahman, raised doubts about the ISIS account. Mr. Abdulrahman said that the military column sent to the area of the base had evacuated 60 soldiers, and that he had seen no proof that the men in the videos were the slain soldiers. | The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition group that tracks casualties in Syria, said that more than 150 captured soldiers had been killed by ISIS since Wednesday. But the group’s director, Rami Abdulrahman, raised doubts about the ISIS account. Mr. Abdulrahman said that the military column sent to the area of the base had evacuated 60 soldiers, and that he had seen no proof that the men in the videos were the slain 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 were Fijians. The United Nations said in a statement that it was making every effort to secure their release. 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 were Fijians. The United Nations said in a statement that it was making every effort to secure their release. A number of Filipino peacekeepers from the same United Nations mission were held by rebels last year and later released unharmed. |
| A spokesman for the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, condemned the detention of the peacekeepers and demanded their immediate release. | A spokesman for the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, condemned the detention of the peacekeepers and demanded their immediate release. |
| Antigovernment activists in the area who work with the rebels were not immediately available for comment. | Antigovernment activists in the area who work with the rebels were not immediately available for comment. |
| The Syrian Foreign Ministry issued a brief statement saying that 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 that 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. |