US-Backed Militants Blackmailing Syrians by Asking for Ransom

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have captured tens of civilians in Hasaka province in Northeastern Syria to force their families to pay a hefty amount of money in return for their freedom, a Lebanese TV Channel reported on Monday.

The Arabic-language al-Manar reported that the SDF has arrested a number of children in the village of Um Zar near the town of al-Shadadi in Southern Hasaka, accusing them of cooperating with ISIL.

It further said that the SDF has forced the families of arrested children to pay a hefty amount of money for their release.

In the meantime, other units of the SDF broke into the residential units in the villages near the town of Ra’as al-Ein in Northwestern Hasaka and arrested tens of villagers, the TV Channel went on to say, adding that the SDF’s move came after a number of forcefully-recruited people cut relations with the SDF.

Meanwhile, two SDF militants were killed after a bomb blast near their base in Ra’as al-Ein.

SANA reported on Saturday that tens of Hasaka residents poured into the streets in al-Nashvah neighborhood in Hasaka city, demonstrating against SDF-affiliated Asayesh security forces that prevented the school goers from going to centers that are still teaching the Damascus government’s educational system.

It went on to say that the protestors opposed the Asayesh’s measures in preventing public vehicles, including taxis and school transportation vehicles, from transferring the school goers to government-affiliated educational centers in different neighborhoods in Hasaka city.

SANA further said that the Asayesh was planning to cancel the Damascus government’s educational system and imposed their own curriculum on the school goers, but faced strong popular resistance.

It said that the SDF also continued arresting young men in Hasaka city to send them to military training camps.