The Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) has posted another video displaying their vile tactics in dealing with captured and kidnapped people in both Syria and Iraq. This time, it did not matter whether or not the people killed in the video were Syrian or foreigners – they all shared the same brutal fate as one another in the end.
Among the casualties of ISIS’ barbarism was the American aide worker, Peter Kassig – a man that entered Syria to assist the civilians living in Syrian rebel camps in the northern part of the country. Kassig was later captured by ISIS and would be used as a public relations tool to propagate on social media sites in order for them to combat the U.S.’ airstrikes on their positions in Syria and Iraq. For those familiar with ISIS’ history of human rights violations; it likely would not matter if the U.S. halted their airstrikes – they were going to kill Peter Kassig anyways.
While news of Peter Kassig’s death circulates around the world, the Syrian people mourn the loss of both the latter and the 18 Syrian Arab Army (SAA) soldiers executed by ISIS. The 18 soldiers from the SAA that were executed by ISIS members in the video were believed to be hostages from Division 17 and Brigade 93 bases captured by ISIS in early August of this year. Very similar to Peter Kassig’s story, they would be used as a tool for ISIS to attempt to coerce the Syrian Government into negotiating the release of imprisoned ISIS fighters. According to a source, the Syrian Government refused to agree to ISIS’ terms due to their demand that every ISIS fighter in a Syrian Government prison be released. Following this, the soldiers fate remained unknown until ISIS media posted the video showing their execution with “Jihadi John” releasing a statement on behalf of the “Caliphate”.
5 of the 18 Syrian Arab Army soldiers identified thus far:
1. Walidi Mahmouod Wa’ali
2. ‘Abdel-Hameed Al-Hamadi
3. ‘Abdel-Kareem IssHaaq
4. Ahmad Al-‘Ali
5. Imad Al-Fawaz
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