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AINA
Hassaka,
Syria (AINA) -- Fighting broke out at 5 AM today between ISIS and Assyrian and
Kurdish fighters in the Hasaka province in northeast Syria. ISIS attacked the
Assyrian villages of Tel Goran, Tel Hurmiz, Tel Tamar, Tel Baloaa Tel Shamiran,
Tel Riman, Tel Nasra, Tel Khareta, and Abu Tena. The ISIS fighters were met by
members of Assyrian Guards (called Natorehs), an Assyrian Militia, and Kurdish
fighters form YPG. 4 Assyrian fighters were killed as well tens of ISIS
fighters. According to the latest reports, fighting is still ongoing in Tel
Tamar.
ISIS
has abducted dozens of Assyrian men, women and children, including 12 from Tel
Hurmiz, 15 from Tel Goran. They have been brought to Jabal Abdul Aziz. The
residents of the villages of Tel Shamiran (approximately 50) and Tel Jazira
(about 40) are being held captive in their own villages by ISIS.
According
to a report
by Newsweek, ISIS will use the Assyrian hostages for a prisoner swap with
Kurdish fighters.
A
number of churches have been destroyed, including the church in Tel Hurmiz, one
of the oldest churches in Syria, the Mar Bisho church in Tel Shamiran, the
church in Qabr Shamiy and the church in Tel Baloua.
There
are 35 contiguous Assyrian villages on both sides of the Khabur river,
stretching 80 kilometers west from Hassaka to Ras al-Ain. The remaining
inhabitants of these villages, some 3000, have now been evacuated, most to
Hasaka and about 200 to Qamishli. Hundreds have taken refuge in St. Mary church
in Hasaka and and St. Ephrem church in Qamishli.
In
Hasaka the Assyrian Democratic Organization was aiding the Assyrian refugees
with housing and food.
AINA
spoke by telephone to Hani Zaya, whose parents, who live in Tel Goran, were
abducted by ISIS. According to Mr. Zaya, local Arabs who are members of ISIS
and who knew the Assyrian village residents reportedly brought them to
"safe-houses" in nearby villages. None of the captives have answered
or made telephone calls. Calls made by relatives of the captives have been
answered by ISIS members, who have said there is nothing to be done for the
hostages.
An
Assyrian women who lives in Indiana said her mother, father and sister were
abducted in Tel Jazira.
The
Syrian army is reportedly 3-5 kilometers from Tel Hurmiz and has offered
assistance.
Three
weeks ago ISIS ordered Assyrians in the region of Hassaka to remove the crosses
from their churches and to pay jizya (Christian poll tax), warning residents
that if they failed to pay they would have to leave or else be killed (AINA 2015-02-03).
Ashur
Gewargis contributed reporting from Beirut.
ISIS fighters killed by Assyrians fighters.
Assyrians fleeing ISIS take shelter in St. Mary s Church in Hasaka, Syria.
Milad Sammy Adam, an Assyrian from the village of Tel Baz, was killed in the ISIS attack.
Damage caused by fighting in the Assyrian village of Tel Khareta, in Hasaka, Syria.
