"Taking advantage of complete impunity, Daesh militants attacked a refugee camp in the Al-Bahra area on October 13, capturing 130 families of about 700 people, and transporting them to Hajin," Savchenko said at a news briefing.
The general stressed that the abducted civilians were de-facto taken hostage and could be used by terrorists as a “human shield” to protect the militants from the possible attack by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) advancing towards the last Daesh-occupied areas on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River.
"As a result of the inaction of pro-US forces, the terrorists managed to establish full control over the strip along the eastern bank of the Euphrates River stretching about 20 kilometers between the settlements of Hajin and as-Susah," Lt. Gen. Vladimir Savchenko, head of the center, said.
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"Despite the US side's statements about the victory over Daesh in Syria, the terrorists still retain control over certain areas of the country. At the same time, the US-led international coalition and the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces units subordinated to the Pentagon continue to imitate the fight against Daesh in the south of the Deir ez-Zor province," he added.
*Daesh (ISIL/ISIS/Islamic State) is a terrorist group banned in Russia and many other countries.