Women, Children Kidnapped by ISIS in Sweida Last Week

Druze clergymen pray during a funeral of two of those killed a day earlier in the ISIS attacks in the southern province of al-Sweida during a mass funeral at Shahba town, in Sweida province, Syria, Thursday, July 26, 2018. AP
Druze clergymen pray during a funeral of two of those killed a day earlier in the ISIS attacks in the southern province of al-Sweida during a mass funeral at Shahba town, in Sweida province, Syria, Thursday, July 26, 2018. AP
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Women, Children Kidnapped by ISIS in Sweida Last Week

Druze clergymen pray during a funeral of two of those killed a day earlier in the ISIS attacks in the southern province of al-Sweida during a mass funeral at Shahba town, in Sweida province, Syria, Thursday, July 26, 2018. AP
Druze clergymen pray during a funeral of two of those killed a day earlier in the ISIS attacks in the southern province of al-Sweida during a mass funeral at Shahba town, in Sweida province, Syria, Thursday, July 26, 2018. AP

ISIS kidnapped dozens of women and children when it attacked their villages last week in Syria's southern province of Sweida, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Monday.

More than 250 people were killed on Wednesday when the terrorist group carried out a string of suicide attacks and shootings in the provincial capital Sweida and villages to the north and east. 

"At least 36 Druze women and children were abducted after the attacks," said the Britain-based monitor.

Four of the women had since managed to escape and another two had died, said Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman. 

Another 17 men from the areas targeted by ISIS were still unaccounted for, but it was unclear if they were also kidnapped, he told AFP.

Both the Observatory and Syrian news outlet Sweida24 said 20 women and 16 children had been kidnapped.

ISIS has so far not claimed the kidnappings, and no details on them could be found on its propaganda channels.  

The extremist group still holds small, isolated areas of Syria's remote desert, which includes northeastern parts of Sweida, as well as pockets in the adjacent province of Daraa and further east near the border with Iraq. 



Israeli Military Recovers Body of a Hostage in Gaza, Is Examining Identity of a Second Body

Palestinians inspect damaged residential buildings where two Israeli hostages were reportedly held before being rescued during an operation by Israeli security forces in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 12, 2024. (AP)
Palestinians inspect damaged residential buildings where two Israeli hostages were reportedly held before being rescued during an operation by Israeli security forces in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 12, 2024. (AP)
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Israeli Military Recovers Body of a Hostage in Gaza, Is Examining Identity of a Second Body

Palestinians inspect damaged residential buildings where two Israeli hostages were reportedly held before being rescued during an operation by Israeli security forces in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 12, 2024. (AP)
Palestinians inspect damaged residential buildings where two Israeli hostages were reportedly held before being rescued during an operation by Israeli security forces in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 12, 2024. (AP)

The Israeli military said Wednesday that troops have recovered the body of a hostage held in Gaza and were examining whether another body recovered was also that of a captive.

Earlier, Israel's defense minister said that troops recovered the bodies of two hostages.

The military said the body of Yosef Al Zaydani was brought to Israel on Tuesday after being discovered in an underground tunnel near the southern Gaza city of Rafah. It said troops uncovered information about Al Zaydani's son Hamzah that "raised serious concerns for his life."

Military spokesman Col. Nadav Shoshani said the military was looking into the identity of a second set of remains recovered.

Al Zaydani and his son were taken captive during Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, 2023, among 250 hostages snatched by the group during its cross-border raid.

Israel believes a third of the remaining 100 hostages are dead.

The body's recovery comes as Israel and Hamas are considering a ceasefire deal that would free the hostages and halt the fighting in Gaza.

However, Yosef and Hamzah Al Zaydani were believed to still be alive and their return could ramp up the pressure on Israel to move ahead on a deal.

Yosef Al Zaydani's name was on a list of 34 hostages shared by a Hamas official with The Associated Press that the group said were slated for release.

Many families of hostages say the continuation of the war in Gaza puts the lives of the remaining hostages at risk. They have demanded throughout the conflict that Israel reaches a deal with Hamas to free their loved ones.