ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — ISIS executed a kidnapped member of the Druze community in southern Syria last week after negotiations failed, local media and a conflict observer have reported.
ISIS killed a 19-year-old male science student on Thursday from a village in as-Suwayda governorate, the local Suwayda24 news head Nour Radwan reported on Sunday.
Suwayda24 posted one video showing a young man in a black T-shirt and running pants with his hands bound. The man, who identifies himself as Muhannad Toukan Abu Ammar, was taken hostage from al-Shabki village on July 25, he said in a video posted on the news site.
He added that he would be executed after the Druze community and ISIS failed to reach an agreement in negotiations for his release.
Suwayda is home to a large community of Druze.
ISIS still holds more than 30 Druze hostage — including women and children. Suwayda officials are calling on the United Nations and international community to intervene, according to Suwayda24 news.
Arabic media reported that Russia was negotiating with ISIS for the release of the hostages.
Regime loyalists were initially faulted for their failure to act after the first abductions. On Friday, the regime sent reinforcements to eastern parts of the province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported.
The UK-based Observatory reported on Sunday that a 19-year-old boy from the province was executed on Thursday. It also reported that more than 50 fighters loyal to Khalid bin Walid al-Mabie from southwest Daraa have been executed.
Syria's state-run SANA news agency reported on Saturday that Damascus is supporting the formation of four municipalities in Suwayda, and additionally local council elections on September 16.
The Druze, a small religious minority, has been largely spared from the violence of the Syrian conflict which began in 2011.
ISIS killed a 19-year-old male science student on Thursday from a village in as-Suwayda governorate, the local Suwayda24 news head Nour Radwan reported on Sunday.
Suwayda24 posted one video showing a young man in a black T-shirt and running pants with his hands bound. The man, who identifies himself as Muhannad Toukan Abu Ammar, was taken hostage from al-Shabki village on July 25, he said in a video posted on the news site.
He added that he would be executed after the Druze community and ISIS failed to reach an agreement in negotiations for his release.
Radwan told AFP the family of Ammar received two videos, including one of him being decapitated. Rudaw cannot independently verify the video or report.
Suwayda is home to a large community of Druze.
ISIS still holds more than 30 Druze hostage — including women and children. Suwayda officials are calling on the United Nations and international community to intervene, according to Suwayda24 news.
Arabic media reported that Russia was negotiating with ISIS for the release of the hostages.
Regime loyalists were initially faulted for their failure to act after the first abductions. On Friday, the regime sent reinforcements to eastern parts of the province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported.
The UK-based Observatory reported on Sunday that a 19-year-old boy from the province was executed on Thursday. It also reported that more than 50 fighters loyal to Khalid bin Walid al-Mabie from southwest Daraa have been executed.
Syria's state-run SANA news agency reported on Saturday that Damascus is supporting the formation of four municipalities in Suwayda, and additionally local council elections on September 16.
The Druze, a small religious minority, has been largely spared from the violence of the Syrian conflict which began in 2011.
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