Syria in turmoil: 54 soldiers killed by Islamic State
Fighters of the Islamic State have killed 54 Syrian soldiers who fled to the desert following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government. The soldiers were captured and killed by Al-Qaeda jihadists in the Homs province, central Syria.
The brutal attack and murder of Syrian soldiers by Islamic State fighters, who were attempting to weather the crisis in the desert after the fall of the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's government, was reported by the AFP agency, citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). The soldiers were killed by Al-Qaeda in the Homs province.
This occurred after the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) announced the capture of Damascus early on Sunday morning at 03:00 GMT. The Assad family, which had ruled Syria for over 50 years, was overthrown.
Syria: tragic death of 54 soldiers in the desert
HTS is recognised by the USA and the UN as a terrorist organisation. However, it may be removed from the sanctions list if it changes its conduct.
A spokesperson for the US Department of State, Matthew Miller, noted that the decision to possibly lift sanctions on HTS would depend on the actions of this group. However, it is unclear whether the reward of £8 million for capturing the HTS leader, Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani, is still available.
Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani, the leader of HTS, formerly fought in Al-Qaeda's ranks. After the outbreak of the civil war in Syria in 2011, he founded the Nusra Front, which was associated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. His activities have contributed to the current situation in the region.
Both AFP and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights emphasise that the situation in Syria remains very tense, and the country's future is uncertain. The conflict, ongoing since 2011, continues to take a tragic toll on both civilian and military populations.
