Syria says military freed 19 Druze hostages held by IS since July

DAMASCUS, Syria — Syrian troops have liberated 19 Druze women and children hostages held by the Islamic State group since July in a military operation in the country’s center, ending a months-long crisis that has stunned Syria’s Druze religious minority, state media reports. An opposition war monitor says the release was part of an exchange.

SANA news agency says in its report that the operation occurred in the Hamima area east of the historic town of Palmyra. It says all IS fighters in the area where the hostages were held have been killed.

The Suwayda 24 activist collective quotes local officials as saying the women and children held by IS have all been freed.

“My happiness is huge,” Nashaat Abu Ammar, whose wife, two sons, and daughter are among those freed, tells The Associated Press by telephone.

The 19 women and children were among 30 people kidnapped by IS in the southern province of Sweida on July 25 when members of the extremist group ambushed residents and went on a killing spree that left at least 216 people dead.

— AP