At least 30,000 people were forced to leave their homes in eastern Syrian by the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) Saturday, according to Agence France Presse.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that ISIS forced residents from the town of Shheil in Deir Ezzor province to leave their homes after seizing the city Thursday from the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front.
"Some 30,000 residents of the town of Shheil, the former stronghold of Nusra Front, have been forced out by the Islamic State," reported the Observatory.
Activists from Shheil confirmed the event Saturday through a shared Facebook page, saying that ISIS "ordered all residents to leave...hand over weapons...and remain out of Shheil 'until ISIS feels it is safe.'"
Activists from Shheil confirmed the event Saturday through a shared Facebook page, saying that ISIS "ordered all residents to leave...hand over weapons...and remain out of Shheil 'until ISIS feels it is safe.'"
Many fear that ISIS will loot the vacant homes, while they attempt to survive in the interim.
The Observatory also reported that another 30,000 people were prevented from returning to their homes in Khasham and Tabieh Jazeera, two other towns located in Syria's eastern Deir Ezzor province.
AFP also reported that another 83,000 civilians in Deir Ezzor province are "awaiting their fate" as ISIS advances on their towns and the surrounding areas.
