The jihadist Islamic State group has expelled more than 30,000 people from their homes in the eastern Syrian town of Shuheil, a monitoring group said on Sunday.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said IS had "forced out" some 30,000 residents after seizing Shuheil on Thursday from Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front.
Another 30,000 residents have been forced from their homes in the towns of Khosham and Tabia Jazeera, also in eastern Deir Ezzor province, the Britain-based NGO said.
"Some 30,000 residents of the town of Shuheil, the former stronghold of Al-Nusra Front, have been forced out by the Islamic State," the group said.
Though both IS and Al-Nusra share a jihadist ideology, the two groups have regularly clashed, with Al-Nusra joining a coalition of armed opposition groups fighting IS.
IS has seized large swathes of territory in Syria and neighbouring Iraq, declaring the land it holds to be an Islamic "caliphate", and its leader the ruler of all Muslims.
The Observatory said IS had prevented some 30,000 people from returning to their homes in two other towns in Deir Ezzor, Khosham and Tabia Jazeera, which it captured in late June.
On a Facebook page, activists from Shuheil said IS had ordered all residents to leave, and entered in armoured cars and tanks "because of their fear and cowardice".
A video distributed by activists on YouTube purportedly shows mediators announcing the terms of the expulsion, saying residents are required to hand over weapons and remain out of Shuhail "until (IS) feels it is safe".
Activists said residents feared IS fighters planned to loot their homes, and the Observatory said the large displacement had left thousands sleeping in the open, with food and water shortages.
Elsewhere in the region, the group said negotiations were under way over the fate of some 83,000 people living in three towns in Deir Ezzor after IS advances in the surrounding area.
AFP
Sun Jul 06 2014
An image grab taken from a propaganda video released on July 5, 2014 by al-Furqan Media allegedly shows the leader of the Islamic State jihadist group Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi adressing Muslim worshippers at a mosque. AFP PHOTO / HO / AL-FURQAN MEDIA
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Khamis, 25 April 2024.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Netizen korek gambar lama Ruhainies makan bersuap dalam ferrari, netizen: “Macam mana boleh downgrade…”
Nama Ruhainies kembali menjadi bualan netizen gara-gara tangkap layar perbualan menerusi Whatsapp yang didakwa merupakan perbualannya bersama Aliff Aziz viral di media sosial.
Tumpuan Jumaat - 26 April 2024
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan di Astro AWANI.
AWANI Ringkas: Nahas helikopter TLDM
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
AirAsia X timbang tawar penerbangan ke Eropah Timur, London dan Orlando
AirAsia X menimbang kemungkinan untuk menawarkan penerbangan ke negara di Eropah Timur dan menyambung semula laluan ke London serta menggunakan hak pendaratannya di Orlando.
ASEAN-BAC akan tertumpu mendorong janji niaga, transaksi, produk serantau
Asean-BAC yang akan dipengerusikan oleh Malaysia tahun depan akan tertumpu untuk menghasilkan peningkatan janji niaga.
Menteri Luar Malaysia perkukuh hubungan dengan China semasa lawatan rasmi pertama
Menteri Luar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan mengadakan perbincangan substantif dengan rakan sejawatannya, Wang Yi, dalam lawatan pertama beliau ke China sejak memegang jawatan itu pada Disember 2023.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Khairul Azhari Saut diumumkan sebagai calon PN
Pemangku Ketua Bahagian Bersatu Hulu Selangor Khairul Azhari Saut diumumkan sebagai calon Perikatan Nasional (PN) bagi Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kuala Kubu Baharu.
MITRA rangka pelbagai bantuan untuk pembangunan masyarakat India
Unit Transformasi Masyarakat India Malaysia (MITRA) sedang merangka pelbagai program bantuan yang bersesuaian bagi pembangunan kaum itu.