Jihadists abduct over 70 Assyrian Christians

Reports from two Syrian activist groups say Islamic State terrorists have abducted at least 70 Assyrian Christians after conquering a number of small villages in the northeast of that country.

It was gathered that the fighters swept through the Assyrian villages situated along the banks of Khabur River near the town of Tal Tamr in Hassakeh province around dawn on Monday.

Sky News reports that in the assault, the jihadists took between 70 and 100 Assyrians captive, while others fled the villages.

Nuri Kino, the head of the activist group 'A Demand For Action' that focuses on religious minorities in the Middle East.

Kino said his organization based its information on conversations with villagers who fled the onslaught and their relatives.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported the abductions, but put the number of Assyrians held by ISIS at 90.

The Observatory relies on a network of activists inside Syria.

It was not immediately clear what ISIS planned to do with the Assyrians as the militants have a long history of killing captives.

Recently, militants in Libya affiliated with ISIS released a video showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians.