The U.S.-led coalition has launched three air strikes on the Islamic State in northeastern Syria.
An estimated 300-400 Syrian Christians were abducted by militants in the region, according to Kino Gabriel, a commander for the Syriac Military Council. The strikes succeeded in slowing the movement of Islamic State forces.
Speaking to The Daily Caller News Foundation via Skype from Syria’s northeastern Al-Hasakah province, Gabriel said Islamic State militants started setting tires on fire in order “to generate smoke to cover their movement, heavy weapons and machines.”
The Syriac Military Council has some connections to the U.S. administration and is sending the coordinates for Islamic State locations, according to Gabriel.
There have been no confirmed reports about the location of the hostages.
Those who fled the attack are hoping to return after stability is restored to the region, although their homes will remain close to Islamic State-held territory.
“They are hoping to return home as soon as the YPG and Syriac Military Council can take control of southern bank and secure the area,” said Gabriel. “They will directly return to their homes.”
Gabriel could not provide exact figures for Islamic State militants, but estimates the number at 2,000 to 3,000 fighters. The Syriac Military Council is comprised of three battalions of 300-350 soldiers. And the estimated number of Kurdish YPG forces who’ve joined the Council in confronting this latest Islamic State threat are 1,000 to 1,500.
“Our plan, and our target in this region, is to get more than the southern villages on the southern bank. We do want to get more control over more area.”
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