ISIS gunmen attack home, property of local merchant in Deir ez-Zor
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Gunmen affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS) attacked on Tuesday night the home and shops of a resident in the village of Takihi in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria.
A local source from Takihi told North Press that two armed men on motorcycles opened fire with machine guns on the house and commercial shops of Ali al-Hindawi, one of the village’s most prominent merchant.
Clashes reportedly broke out between al-Hindawi and the attackers, who were heard chanting slogans in support of ISIS. The gunmen later fled the scene after causing material damage to the property.
According to the source, al-Hindawi had previously received several threats from ISIS militants, including WhatsApp messages and handwritten notes left on his home, demanding that he pay zakat (Islamic tax) to the group and providing a phone number for contact.
The source added that this was the second attack targeting al-Hindawi this year. He narrowly escaped an earlier assassination attempt a few months ago when gunmen opened fire on his car.