The Islamic State militants who stormed Assyrian Christian villages in northeastern Syria before dawn on Monday took substantially more hostages than previously thought, and the terrorist group will release a video message on Wednesday threatening to kill the defenseless civilians, according to the Assyrian Human Rights Network.
Despite initial reports that ISIS abducted between 70 and 100 Christians during the night raids on villages along the Khabur River near the city of Tal Tamr in the Hassakeh province, rights group founder Osama Edward told CNN his organization’s ground-level sources place the number of hostages at 150.
The video, which Edward said will be directed to President Obama and other world leaders whose countries have joined the fight against ISIS, will warn that the Assyrians could face the same fate as the 21 Coptic Christians from Egypt that ISIS militants beheaded in a video released earlier this month.
“Maybe they are facing the same destiny. That’s why we call on all over the world, like the U.S, Europe, coalition forces — protect Assyrians, save Assyrians in Syria,” Edward said on CNN.
“They are facing death, people are unarmed, they are peaceful. And they need help, they are just left alone — no one’s protecting them.”
The last communication from the ISIS captives arrived in a text message from a woman to her husband that said the kidnappers were interrogating the women on whether they fight in rival militias, said Edward, who has family in the area that ISIS hit.
Members of Edward’s advocacy organization also fear that ISIS will use the prisoners as human shields, the Associated Press reported.
U.S. Central Command told AP that coalition forces carried out 10 airstrikes around Hassakeh province on Monday, destroying two ISIS fighting vehicles.
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