A local official, Nadim Kreizan, told SANA that residents of the nearby town of Jeiroud saw approximately 125 of the cement company’s workers being loaded into Islamic State militant group vehicles and being taken towards Tal Dakweh on the outskirts of Eastern Ghouta, where the militants are active.
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The abduction was confirmed by managers of the factory located near the town of al-Dumeir northeast of Damascus, the broadcaster reported, citing an unnamed official at the Syrian Industry Ministry. Nine civilians and 15 ISIS fighters were reportedly killed in the clashes. Hundreds of families had fled since the militant assault, the sources said.
“We have no information about where they are”, the resident added.
Efforts are under way to secure the workers’ release, with indirect contacts said to have been made.
Rebel forces are meanwhile advancing on the key Turkish border town of al-Rai in northern Aleppo in an attempt to cut off IS smuggling and supply routes.
The jihadist group said in a statement it had attacked the Tishrin power station 50 km (30 miles) northeast of the capital and a Syrian military source acknowledged the group had staged assaults, but said all those who took part had been killed.
It comes nearly two weeks after Syrian and allied forces recaptured the ancient city of Palmyra from IS fighters, in what was seen as a significant loss to the militant group, which had held the city since last May.
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Islamic State attackers, using five bomb-laden cars, also struck military positions near the airport, southeast of Damascus, killing 12 soldiers, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based organization that tracks the war, said. A source within the Syrian military – speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity – said 13 militants died in the skirmish.
