UNSC Slams ISIL’s Crimes against Civilians in Hassaka Countryside

NEW YORK-The UN Security Council on Wednesday strongly condemned the crimes perpetrated by the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) against civilians in the countryside of Hassaka province in northern Syria.

“Such crimes once again demonstrate the brutality of ISIL which is responsible for thousands of crimes and abuses against people from all faiths, ethnicities and nationalities and without regard to any basic value of humanity,” the council said in a statement.

AFP reported on Thursday that the UNSC statement strongly condemned ISIL’s kidnapping of more than 100 people three days ago in northern Syria and slammed the destruction of churches and religious sites there.  

The council demanded an “immediate and unconditional” release of all those abducted by ISIL, Al-Nursa Front and all other individuals and groups associated with al-Qaida, stressing that those responsible for such acts must be held accountable.

On Monday, the ISIL terrorists snatched at least 90 Syrian Christians of the Assyrian minority from the towns of Tal Shamiram and Tal Hurmoz in the countryside of the city of Hasaka in northern Syria.

Hamda Mustafa