Syria says retreating IS released 25 hostages

29 October 2017, 7:40 pm

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A Syrian government official says Islamic State militants have released 25 apparent hostages as they retreated from a town in the central Homs province.

Homs Governor Talal Barazi tells The Associated Press Sunday there are another 19 people originally from Qaryatayn still held by IS.

This frame grab from video released on May 26, 2017 and provided by the government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media, shows Syrian forces taking positions during fighting between government forces and Islamic State group militants in Homs province in central Syria. (Syrian Central Military Media, via AP)

Government forces and allied troops regained control of Qaryatayn last week, chasing the militants out, after they were held for three weeks. The militants left a trail of blood behind them, killing at least 70 residents. Bodies were found strewn in the streets and in ditches. At the time, activists said more remain unaccounted for.

It was not immediately clear why the militants released the 25 hostages.

— AP