BEIRUT: The US-led coalition carried out air strikes Thursday against the Islamic State group in northeastern Syria, where the militants have launched a new offensive and kidnapped 220 Assyrian Christians.
The raids struck areas around the town of Tal Tamr in Hasakeh province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, without giving information on possible casualties.
They followed the launch Monday of a new offensive by IS, which kidnapped the Assyrians as it seized territory around Tal Tamr.
The town remains under the control of Kurdish forces, but at least 10 surrounding villages have been seized by IS, along with the captives.
Many of those abducted are said to be women, children or elderly.
The Observatory said negotiations were ongoing "through mediators from Arab tribes and a member of the Assyrian community" to secure their release.
The IS offensive has killed at least 35 militants and 25 members of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and of an Assyrian defence force, according to the Observatory.
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