WASHINGTON, Feb 25: The US has condemned the Islamic State’s attacks on predominantly Assyrian Christian villages in the northeast Syria and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the civilians taken captive.
“ISIL’s latest targeting of a religious minority is only further testament to its brutal and inhumane treatment of all those who disagree with its divisive goals and toxic beliefs,” State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki said.
“ISIL continues to exact its evil upon innocents of all faiths, and the majority of its victims have been Muslims. People of all faiths and many religious leaders throughout the region have united in condemning ISIL’s depravity, including its mass killings, rape, sexual enslavement, lashing, stoning, crucifixion, torture, and public murders of hostages,” she said.
On Monday IS militants kidnapped dozens of civilians, including women, children, priests, and the elderly.
“Hundreds of other civilians remain trapped in villages surrounded by ISIL fighters, and clashes continue between ISIL and local forces defending their communities. ISIL burned and destroyed homes and churches, and the violence has reportedly displaced more than 3,000 people. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of the civilians taken captive yesterday and of all those held by ISIL,” she said. (PTI)
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