Abducted child in Syria’s Daraa released after paying $25,000
DARAA, Syria (North Press) – Unknown individuals released on Monday the five-year-old child Ali Khaled Jamal al-Asaad, following his arrest from his residence in the al-Zaniba neighborhood of the city of Izraa in the northern countryside of Daraa, south Syria, 10 days ago.
A relative of al-Asaad told North Press that the kidnappers left the child in one of the city’s neighborhoods after receiving a ransom in exchange for his release, amounting to $25,000.
They further added that the kidnappers had been in contact with the child’s family since the second day of the kidnapping, demanding a ransom in exchange for his release.
They further added that the identity of the gang members is still unknown, while accusations were directed to individuals associated with government forces regarding the abduction.
The city of Izraa in Daraa is considered one of the areas where government forces and their security branches are heavily present, with security checkpoints at all entrances and a nighttime ban on motorcycles.
It is worth mentioning that the child was abducted by unidentified individuals riding a motorcycle in front of his house on Sep.3 and headed towards a rural road, according to his relative.
Daraa governorate is witnessing a state of insecurity including killing and kidnaping since the government has taken control over it in 2018.
In July 2018, the opposition armed factions and Syrian the government forces reached a ceasefire agreement mediated by Russia in the opposition-held areas in Daraa. Under the deal, the opposition armed factions agreed to hand over their weapons in exchange for staying in Daraa, and those who opposed the agreement were deported to Idlib, which is under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front).