hostages - Page 20

Kidnapped American’s Family Warns Travel to Iran Still Dangerous

Kidnapped American Robert Levinson’s son Daniel penned an op-ed for the Washington Post over the weekend, in which he warned those who would visit Iran in pursuit of business opportunities created by the nuclear deal to exercise extreme caution. “My family and I cannot emphasize enough how dangerous traveling to Iran remains,” Daniel Levinson wrote.

Robert-Levinson-AFP

ISIS Executes Christian Hostages During Muslim Holiday

The Islamic State has released a videotaped execution of three Assyrian Christian hostages, captured during a February offensive in Syria. The lives of hundreds more Christian captives remain in the balance, a point the savages emphasized by making three of them beg for ransom payments on camera.

Zaid Benjamin/Twitter

Iran Swaps Top Al-Qaeda Operatives for Kidnapped Diplomat

Sky News reported last week that Iran has released five senior al-Qaeda operatives, including several possible successors to Ayman al-Zawahiri as head of the organization, in exchange for an Iranian diplomat who was kidnapped in Yemen earlier this year.

AP Photo/FBI

Al-Qaeda Releases 7 Kidnapped U.S.-Backed Rebels

The U.S.-backed unit of moderate Syrian rebels effectively disintegrated, following several kidnappings by the al-Qaeda linked Nusra Front. The group has agreed to release 7 of its prisoners, in an announcement in which the freed refer to the al-Qaeda thugs as brothers.

Reuters

ISIS Threatens to Kill Croatian Hostage unless Egypt Frees Muslim Women

The Egyptian branch of ISIS has kidnapped a 30-year-old Croatian named Tomislav Salopek, who was in Egypt on business as an employee of French geology firm CGG, and is threatening to murder him within 48 hours if the Egyptian government does not release Muslim women from its jails. It is not clear exactly which Muslim women the terrorist group wants freed, as there is no shortage of them in Egyptian prisons, following the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood.

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Kobani Hostage Crisis Ends as Kurds Retake Key City from ISIS

Reports surfaced over the past week of Islamic State (ISIS) terror attacks on the much-abused Kurdish border city of Kobani in Syria, but it now appears ISIS only recaptured parts of the town for a few days. Kurdish forces have reportedly driven ISIS from Kobani for the second time this year. The victory came at horrible cost, as NPR reports ISIS may have killed about 300 civilians over the past 24 hours, many of them slaughtered in a brutal house-to-house massacre.

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As Boko Haram Victims Accuse Each Other of Radicalization, Nigeria Moves Women to Secret Location

Women and children freed from captivity under the jihadist terror group Boko Haram are being held at an undisclosed location by the Nigerian military after accusing each other of continuing to communicate with and work for the terrorist group. Nigerian officials claim they have been relocated to an undisclosed location for more focused therapy to help them work through their trauma.

AP Photo/Sunday Alamba

Syrian Christians Plead for Help as ISIS Launches New Attack

Syrian Christians have this morning put out a desperate appeal for help as ISIS launches new attacks against them along the Khabour River in northeast Syria. According to Rima Tüzün of the European Syriac Union, members of the community who have taken up arms to defend themselves are without ammunition, and 17 Syriac Military Council fighters are surrounded by ISIS in the town of Tel Maghasneh.

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Report: ISIS to Slaughter Christian Hostages Unless Airstrikes Stop

The latest ISIS terror video is apparently running behind schedule—it was supposed to be released on Wednesday—but all indications are that it will include a threat to murder their Christian hostages, including women and children, if the bombing campaign against the Islamic State is not halted.

Reuters

‘P.R. Stunt’: Jordan Denies ISIS Claim of American Hostage’s Death

Jordan has responded to a claim by the Islamic State (ISIS) on Friday that American hostage Kayla Jean Mueller was killed by collateral damage from Jordanian airstrikes, saying that ISIS has provided no proof of Mueller’s death, and is lying about either the fact or manner of her death. American officials also said they had seen no evidence that Mueller was killed.

AP Photo/The Daily Courier, Jo. L. Keener

Japan Turns to Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Palestinians for Help Freeing ISIS Hostages

In their latest Internet hostage video, the Islamic State demanded $200 million from Japan in exchange for the lives of security contractor Haruna Yukawa and freelance journalist Kenji Goto Jogo, promising they would be killed within 72 hours if the ransom was not paid. After vowing that his nation would not submit to terrorist demands, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has asked several prominent Middle Eastern leaders for help, including Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

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