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Belfast Telegraph
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Remains of 30 people believed killed by IS found in Syria by Qatar and FBI
The Qatari internal security forces said the FBI had requested the search, and that DNA tests are currently under way to determine the identities of the people. Dozens of foreigners, including aid workers and journalists, were killed by IS militants who had controlled large swaths of Syria and Iraq for half a decade and declared a so-called caliphate. The militant group lost most of its territory in late 2017 and was declared defeated in 2019. Since then, dozens of gravesites and mass graves have been discovered in northern Syria containing remains and bodies of people IS had abducted over the years. American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, as well as humanitarian workers Kayla Mueller and Peter Kassig, are among those who were killed by IS. John Cantlie, a British correspondent, was abducted alongside Mr Foley in 2012, and was last seen alive in one of the extremist group's propaganda videos in 2016. The search took place in the town of Dabiq, near Syria's northern border with Turkey. Mass graves have also found in areas previously controlled by Syrian President Bashar Assad who was ousted in a lightning insurgency last December, ending his family's half-century rule. For years, the Assads used their notorious security and intelligence agencies to crack down on dissidents, many who have gone missing. The United Nations in 2021 estimated that over 130,000 Syrians were taken away and disappeared during the uprising that began in 2011 and descended into a 13-year civil war.
Euronews
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Bodies of 30 people found in Syria during Qatar and FBI joint search
The remains of at least 30 individuals believed to have been executed by the so-called Islamic State (IS) group have been uncovered in northern Syria, following a joint search led by Qatari teams in coordination with the FBI, Qatari authorities have confirmed. According to a statement issued by Qatar's internal security forces, the operation was conducted at the request of the FBI, with DNA testing underway to confirm the identities of the deceased. The statement did not specify which individuals the American agency was attempting to locate. The remains were discovered in the remote town of Dabiq, close to Syria's northern border with Turkey. The extremist group, which proclaimed a so-called caliphate, controlled territory in Syria and Iraq for nearly five years before losing most of its strongholds by late 2017 and being declared defeated in 2019. During its occupation, IS was responsible for the abduction and killing of dozens of foreigners, including journalists and aid workers. Among them were American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, humanitarian workers Kayla Mueller and Peter Kassig and British correspondent John Cantlie, who was kidnapped alongside Foley in 2012 and last appeared in IS propaganda in 2016. Separately, mass graves have also been located in territory formerly under the control of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted last December in a lightning insurgency that ended his family's five-decade rule. Al-Assad's government was long accused of forcibly disappearing dissidents through its feared security and intelligence services. According to a 2021 United Nations estimate, more than 130,000 Syrians were forcibly disappeared after an anti-government movement in 2011 quickly morphed into a civil war. Burkina Faso's army directed and participated in a massacre by pro-government militias of at least 130 civilians in March around the western town of Solenzo, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said. The findings, published in a new report on Monday, were based on witness testimony and an analysis of footage shared online. The attack was directed against the Fulani ethnic group, who have been displaced en masse in recent months from Banwa province. After the March massacre, the Al Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) retaliated with a series of attacks in Sourou, a province to the north. The Islamist armed group targeted villages believed to have helped the army, killing at least 100 civilians, according to HRW. 'The viral videos of the atrocities by pro-government militias near Solenzo sent shock waves through Africa's Sahel region, but they told only part of the story,' said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at HRW. 'Further research uncovered that Burkina Faso's military was responsible for these mass killings of Fulani civilians, which were followed by deadly reprisals by an Islamist armed group.' Allegrozzi called on the government to 'impartially investigate these deaths and prosecute all those responsible'. HRW interviewed dozens of witnesses to the attacks, and viewed videos showing abuses by pro-government volunteers (VDPs) against Fulani civilians near Solenzo, as well as analysing information posted on social media. 'Thousands of Fulani families from over 20 villages set out for [neighbouring] Mali in search of protection,' said a Fulani herder, 44, from Solenzo, whose eight family members were killed in the attacks. 'However, we couldn't reach Mali without crossing villages [that were] occupied by the VDPs and the army. The VDPs shot at us like animals, while drones were flying over our heads. Many women and children died because they could not run.' Witnesses described the direct participation of the country's army alongside VDPs in the operation, including the use of military helicopters. They also mentioned the targeting of Fulani civilians. A 50-year-old woman from Solenzo told HRW: 'I heard the VDPs saying in the Djoula language: 'Nobody will escape! Look for the Fulani everywhere. We are going to kill all Fulani.'' Such testimony was said to corroborate statements by VDP members recorded in videos reviewed by the organisation. In a statement published on 15 March, a government spokesperson said that on 10 March, militia and security forces fought off a 'terrorist' attack and killed about 100 assailants before chasing others through the bush. The spokesperson said the security forces and VDPs 'took over the forest to dismantle the terrorist base.' They found women, children, and older people 'whom the terrorists tried to use as human shields, as well as a large herd of stolen cattle and goats,' and took them to safety. However, witnesses contradicted the government's account, saying no fighting took place between government forces and the Islamist fighters near Solenzo, and that the military operation appeared to have been carefully planned. Islamist armed groups have focused on recruiting from the Fulani community, and the government has long conflated the two. Fulani witnesses said the recent military operation had displaced most Fulani people from Banwa province. Hundreds were said to have fled across the border into neighbouring Mali. 'Today, in the whole province, there are no more Fulani – they all fled or were killed or taken hostage,' a 53-year-old man from Solenzo told HRW. Following the attacks near Solenzo, the military proceeded toward Sourou, which has been under the control of the JNIM for seven years. Villagers said the army remained in the village for about two days. The JNIM subsequently returned and targeted men it believed had collaborated with the army and its backers. 'All the men had been executed in front of the health centre,' said a 60-year-old woman. 'I counted up to 70 bodies.' Allegrozzi said that the 'scope of the atrocities" by government forces, militias and Islamist armed groups in western Burkina Faso "remain grossly overlooked". She called on the United Nations Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council to urgently place Burkina Faso "high on their agendas and act to protect civilians still at grave risk". The Sahel region of Africa now accounts for "over half of all terrorism-related deaths", according to a report by the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) published in March. Burkina Faso's military junta seized power in 2022, after the country's government struggled to control Islamist insurgencies. Burkina Faso authorities did not immediately reply a request for comment.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Remains of 30 people believed killed by IS found in Syria by Qatar and FBI
The remains of 30 people believed to have been killed by the so-called Islamic State group (IS) have been found in a remote Syrian town in a search led by search teams from Qatar and the FBI, according to a statement from Qatari officials. The Qatari internal security forces said the FBI had requested the search, and that DNA tests are currently under way to determine the identities of the people. Dozens of foreigners, including aid workers and journalists, were killed by IS militants who had controlled large swaths of Syria and Iraq for half a decade and declared a so-called caliphate. The militant group lost most of its territory in late 2017 and was declared defeated in 2019. Since then, dozens of gravesites and mass graves have been discovered in northern Syria containing remains and bodies of people IS had abducted over the years. American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, as well as humanitarian workers Kayla Mueller and Peter Kassig, are among those who were killed by IS. John Cantlie, a British correspondent, was abducted alongside Mr Foley in 2012, and was last seen alive in one of the extremist group's propaganda videos in 2016. The search took place in the town of Dabiq, near Syria's northern border with Turkey. Mass graves have also found in areas previously controlled by Syrian President Bashar Assad who was ousted in a lightning insurgency last December, ending his family's half-century rule. For years, the Assads used their notorious security and intelligence agencies to crack down on dissidents, many who have gone missing. The United Nations in 2021 estimated that over 130,000 Syrians were taken away and disappeared during the uprising that began in 2011 and descended into a 13-year civil war.
Irish Examiner
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Remains of 30 people believed killed by IS found in Syria by Qatar and FBI
The remains of 30 people believed to have been killed by the so-called Islamic State group (IS) have been found in a remote Syrian town in a search led by search teams from Qatar and the FBI, according to a statement from Qatari officials. The Qatari internal security forces said the FBI had requested the search, and that DNA tests are currently under way to determine the identities of the people. Dozens of foreigners, including aid workers and journalists, were killed by IS militants who had controlled large swaths of Syria and Iraq for half a decade and declared a so-called caliphate. The militant group lost most of its territory in late 2017 and was declared defeated in 2019. Since then, dozens of gravesites and mass graves have been discovered in northern Syria containing remains and bodies of people IS had abducted over the years. Journalist James Foley was killed by IS (AP) American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, as well as humanitarian workers Kayla Mueller and Peter Kassig, are among those who were killed by IS. John Cantlie, a British correspondent, was abducted alongside Mr Foley in 2012, and was last seen alive in one of the extremist group's propaganda videos in 2016. The search took place in the town of Dabiq, near Syria's northern border with Turkey. Mass graves have also found in areas previously controlled by Syrian President Bashar Assad who was ousted in a lightning insurgency last December, ending his family's half-century rule. For years, the Assads used their notorious security and intelligence agencies to crack down on dissidents, many who have gone missing. The United Nations in 2021 estimated that over 130,000 Syrians were taken away and disappeared during the uprising that began in 2011 and descended into a 13-year civil war.
12-05-2025
- Politics
Remains of 30 people believed killed by IS militants found in Syria
DAMASCUS, Syria -- The remains of 30 people believed to have been killed by the militant Islamic State group have been found in a remote Syrian town in a search led by Qatari search teams and the FBI, according to a statement from Qatar on Monday. The Qatari internal security forces said the FBI had requested the search, and that DNA tests are currently underway to determine the identities of the people. The Qatari agency did not whom the American intelligence and security agency is trying to find. Dozens of foreigners, including aid workers and journalists, were killed by IS militants who had controlled large swaths of Syria and Iraq for half a decade and declared a so-called caliphate. The militant group lost most of its territory in late 2017 and was declared defeated in 2019. Since then, dozens of gravesites and mass graves have been discovered in northern Syria containing remains and bodies of people IS had abducted over the years. American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, as well as humanitarian workers Kayla Mueller and Peter Kassig are among those killed by IS. John Cantlie, a British correspondent, was abducted alongside Foley in 2012, and was last seen alive in one of the extremist group's propaganda videos in 2016. The search took place in the town of Dabiq, near Syria's northern border with Turkey. Mass graves have also found in areas previously controlled by Syrian President Bashar Assad who was ousted in a lightning insurgency last December, ending his family's half-century rule. For years, the Assads used their notorious security and intelligence agencies to crack down on dissidents, many who have gone missing. The United Nations in 2021 estimated that over 130,000 Syrians were taken away and disappeared during the uprising that began in 2011 and descended into a 13-year civil war.
