SDF ready for swapping IS militants with abductees from Syria’s As Suwaida: Reports

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The Syrian Democratic Forces have announced readiness for swapping Islamic State militants with the residents of the Syrian city of As Suwaida, who were kidnapped by the group.

According to Syrian media channel on Sunday, SDF is ready to swap Islamic State members in order to get those kidnapped from al-Shubki village, in the eastern countryside of As Suwaida, released.

The number of those kidnapped, according to the reports, is estimated at 20 women, estimated between 18 and 60, and 16 children.

At least 36 civilians were abducted from the province, south of Syria, in an attack carried out by the group last month, which left more than 250 victims.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the militant group executed one of the abductees after talks between the group and the Syrian forces over transferring the militants from southwest of Daraa to the Badiya region reached a deadlock.

Last week, Local sources from Syria’s southern city of As Suwaida were quoted saying that an undeclared agreement was made between the Syrian regime and Islamic State to release the Druze kidnapped women, in return for 100 militants.

In May, the Syrian forces transferred IS members from al-Yarmouk camp, south of Damascus, to the countryside of As Suwaida, in accordance with an undeclared agreement.