DAMASCUS: Syrian troops have liberated 19 women and children hostages held by Daesh since July in a military operation in the country’s center, ending a monthslong crisis that has stunned Syria’s Druze religious minority, state media reported Thursday. An opposition activist group said the release was part of an exchange.
SANA news agency said in its report that the operation occurred in the Hamimah area east of the historic town of Palmyra. It said all Daesh militants in the area where the hostages were held have been killed.
The Suwayda 24 activist collective quoted local officials as saying the women and children held by Daesh have all been freed.
“My happiness is huge,” Nashaat Abu Ammar, whose wife, two sons and daughter are among those freed, told the Associated Press by telephone.