Putin Says IS Militants In Syria Have Seized 700 Hostages; Pentagon Skeptical By gowidenews October 19, 2018 01:24 Report reaching us says that the Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that Islamic State militants recently seized about 700 hostages in a part of Syria controlled by U.S.-backed forces, and are carrying out executions -- a claim questioned by the Pentagon. At an international policy forum in Sochi on October 18, Putin said the hostages include several Americans and Europeans, and claimed that IS is expanding its territory on the left bank of the Euphrates River, currently controlled by the U.S.-allied Syrian Democratic Forces. Putin did not specify what the militants' demands were, but said "they took about 130 families hostage, which accounts for about 700 people." He said the militants have warned that they would kill 10 people a day if their demands are not met. "They have issued ultimatums, specific demands, and warned that i...
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