Zara'a attack
On 12 May 2016, militants of the Al Qaeda-linked Al-Nusra Front and Ahrar ash-Sham attacked and captured the Alawite village of Zara'a, Southern Hama Governorate.[1][2]
Zara'a attack | |
---|---|
Part of the Syrian civil war | |
Zara'a in the Hirbnafsah Nahiyah, Hama Governorate | |
Location | Hama Governorate, Syria |
Date | 12 May 2016 |
Target | Alawite civilians, National Defence Forces |
Attack type | Shooting |
Weapons | AK-47s and other small arms |
Deaths | Unknown |
Injured | Unknown |
Perpetrators | Al-Nusra Front and Ahrar ash-Sham |
Motive | Terror |
The attack
An early morning surprise attack on Zara'a defeated a National Defence Forces unit stationed there, and allowed the rebels to enter the predominantly Alawite village.[3][4] The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that civilians had been kidnapped[2] and the Red Crescent confirmed that 42 children and seven NDF militiamen were killed during the militant attack. According to the LCCS, rebels killed over 30 pro-government fighters while SOHR said seven militants were killed.[5] More clashes continued into the afternoon with the Syrian and Russian Air Forces airstriking the rebel positions.[5] This rebel attack was a part of an assault in "revenge for Aleppo."[2]
Aftermath
Civilians, including women and children, were kidnapped and taken to Al-Rastan Plains with some news sources putting the number kidnapped at 70.[1][4] Some of the captured were pro-government troops.[2] On 24 May 2016, the Syrian Red Crescent convinced the militants to hand over civilians and NDF bodies.[3] They were transported by the Syrian Army to the Homs Military Hospital for identification the next day.[6]
Reactions
The Syrian Foreign Ministry also sent two letters where they called on the UN Secretary-General and the UN Security Council to condemn the massacre.[8]
References
- "Syrian opposition forces massacre, kidnap 120 civilians in southern Hama". Al-Masdar News. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- "Rebels seize Alawite village in Syria, abduct civilians: Observatory". Reuters. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- "Islamists agree to hand over corpses of civilians massacred in northern Homs". Al-Masdar News. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- "French MP Condemns 'Moderates' Massacre in Alawite Village in Syria". Sputnik News. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- "Al-Qaida, hard-line rebels seize Alawite village in Syria". Ynet. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- "Syrian Army recovers the bodies of 42 civilians massacred at Zarah by rebel forces". Al-Masdar News. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- "Foreign-backed terrorists commit massacre in al-Zara [Hama countryside], 2 civilians killed in terrorist rocket attack on Aleppo". Syrian Free Press. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- "Damascus Calls on UN to Condemn Massacre in Western Syria". Sputnik News. 14 May 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.