Assyrian Forces Request International Support After IS Offensive

Local forces battling Islamic State militants in northeast Syria are asking the international community for military equipment "capable of changing the balance of power on the ground," as hundreds of area residents remain missing after an IS offensive...

"We call on the international community and all democratic forces in the world to stand up against these violations and crimes, as they do not pose a threat to the Christian Syriac presence only, but to democracy and universal values of civilization..." the general command of the Syriac Military Council, known as MFS, said in an online statement Thursday.

The number of abductions in the primarily Assyrian Christian region of Khabour remains unclear, with militias and monitoring groups estimating 150 to 400 people are missing.

Reporting from Syria, journalist Zana Omer told VOA local forces said they pushed back IS militants from villages along the Khabour river following the attacks earlier this week, but fighting continues.............................http://www.voanews.com/content/assyrian-forces-request-international-support-after-is-offensive-kidnappings/2660266.html
26/2/15
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Related:

• Islamic State militants have abducted at least 220 people from Assyrian Christian villages in north-eastern Syria during a three day offensive, a monitoring group has said...

• 1,000 Christian families flee Syria jihadists (Activist)

• French Lawmaker to Al-Manar: Assad Part of Syria Solution

• French President, PM Slam Lawmakers’ Meeting with Assad.

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• "Shameful" global response to human rights violations (Amnesty International report)

• This has been a devastating year for those seeking to stand up for human rights and for those caught up in the suffering of war zones....