Unknown persons kidnap merchant in Syria’s Hasakah
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – On Friday, unknown persons kidnapped a cattle merchant in the southern countryside of Hasakah, taking him to an unknown destination.
Local sources reported to North Press that unknown persons blocked the road in front of Hassan Khafaji, a sheep merchant, near the village of Tel Jayer in the city of Shaddadi, south of Hasakah.
They kidnapped Khafaji along with his vehicle, and both Khafaji’s fate and the identity of the perpetrators is unknown, the source added.
A relative of Khafaji, who preferred not to be named, said that a few days prior, Khafaji received threats and demands to pay tribute known as zakat from unknown individuals.
The relative added that they believe that agents affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS) are behind the kidnapping to extort ransom.
This coincides with a series of security operations by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against ISIS cells in Deir ez-Zor and the countryside of Hasakah, during which they arrested dozens of members of these groups.