Syria: Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS) and Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar rebels accused of executing civilians in Latakia
Rebel groups in Syria are accused of killing as many as 190 civilians and taking 200 hostages during an offensive in August, Human Rights Watch claims.
A Human Rights Watch (HRW) investigation claims there were executions and indiscriminate shootings in the Latakia countryside, and that hostages are still being held by the Islamic state of Iraq and Sham (ISIS) and Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar.
The group visited five villages after a rebel offensive in August, interviewing relatives of people missing of wounded in the attack as well as opposition figures not involved in the attack.
A report released today states that 190 civilians were killed, including 57 women and 18 children along with 14 elderly men.
“The evidence collected strongly suggests they were killed on the first day of the operation, 4 August,” the report states.