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ISIS Frees 37 Assyrian Christians in Exchange of Money

Also Saturday, the Observatory said the toll in Thursday air strikes on the town of Albu Kamal on the border with Iraq had risen to 71 people, at least 53 of them civilians.

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The Observatory, which relies on a network of activists on the ground to monitor the war in Syria, said at least six children were among the dead.

The other 18 people killed were too badly burned to be initially identified, the group said. It posted a picture showing several people including one woman, who was weeping.

Russian Federation began carrying out airstrikes in Syria on Sept.30, further complicating a civil war that is now in its fifth year.

The monitoring group had previously said at least 22 people were killed in the strikes, but it was not able to confirm who was behind the attacks.

Russian officials deny their airstrikes have hit civilians, and say they focus their attacks on militant groups.

They arrived on Saturday morning in the town of Tal Tamr in the Khabur region of Hasakeh province in northeastern Syria, the group said. Yet, the Observatory said it has recorded more deaths among civilians than militants since the Russian air campaign began.

The Assyrian Human Rights Network said the captives had been returned to the town of Tel Tamer and that they were in good health.

Women and elderly people were among the 37 Assyrians, the report said, adding that the release came as a result of “strenuous efforts” the Hasakah-based Assyrian Church of the East has exerted.

The terrorist group ISIS has released 37 people he had abducted on February 23 when the group took control of the Assyrian villages and towns on the Khabur River in the Hasaka governorate, told Assyrian Observatory for Human Rights.

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Islamic State fighters killed three of the Assyrians last month, according to the two monitoring groups.

Suspected Russian strikes kill 23 Syria civilians Monitor