ISIS seizes factory workers in Syria

Reports have emerged that suggest ISIS seized up to 300 workers and contractors from a cement factory north-east of the Syrian capital, Damascus. It is unclear when the abduction took place because the reports vary, however the workers were said to have been abducted from a dormitory located on the outskirts of the town of Dumeir. The area has seen heavy fighting between ISIS and government forces in recent days. Moves are under way to secure the workers’ release, and it is suggested that indirect contact has been made with their captors.

Syrian state television has reported the abduction by Islamic State militants of about 300 cement workers and contractors in an area north-east of Damascus, as fighting elsewhere in the country worsens.

The report, which could not be independently verified by the Guardian, said Thursday’s mass abduction of workers from the al-Badia cement company took place in Dumeir, an area where militants launched a surprise attack against government forces earlier this week.

State-run news agency Sana quoted a source in the company as saying there had been no success in efforts to establish contact with any of the workers.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the Syria conflict, said earlier in the day that contact had been lost with dozens of workers in Dumeir.

No further details of the abduction were immediately known and there has been no claim of responsibility. Mass abductions have taken place on occasion in Syria during the country’s civil war, now in its sixth year, most often of religious minorities such as Christians.

The abduction came as fighting with Isis militants raged in northern Syria on Thursday. Syrian opposition fighters have advanced on Isis strongholds, including al-Rai in northern Aleppo along the border with Turkey.