Several U.S. and European citizens were taken hostage by the Islamic State in Syria earlier this week, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking at a conference in Sochi on Thursday, Putin said ISIS seized nearly 700 hostages in parts of Syria controlled by U.S.-backed forces. The terrorists issued an ultimatum promising to execute 10 people every day, according to Reuters.
“According to our data, several citizens of both the United States and European countries were taken hostage. Everyone is silent, some kind of silence, as if nothing is happening,” he said.
Get breaking National news
“Representatives of the Islamic State were left in several localities, and recently they began to expand their area of presence – 130 families were taken there, almost 700 people, hostages.”
-
![]()
Trump says ‘bloodthirsty’ ISIS has been ‘driven out’ of Iraq and Syria -
![]()
On seventh year of Syrian conflict, new humanitarian crisis emerges in Ghouta -
![]()
Canadian man killed in Syria fighting ISIS -
![]()
Ontario-born man killed while fighting ISIS in Syria -
![]()
Video shows ISIS troops forcing Syrian soldiers to retreat -
![]()
Iraq launches operation to clear ISIS from desert near Syria
- N.S. woman says her family has lost hundreds of relatives, friends in Nepal floods
- Canadian citizen confirmed safe after Nepal floods but 29 still missing
- ‘We have to move quickly’: Canadians lend a hand as massive relief effort in Nepal begins
- Ontario student accused in U.S. of taking airport photos for Chinese official
He added that ISIS was expanding its control in territory controlled by U.S. and U.S.-backed forces in Syria.
He did not specify what the terrorists’ demands were.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.