Isis have taken 700 people hostage in Syria including 10 US and European citizens, Vladimir Putin has said.

The jihadi group have seized the hostages in a part of Syria controlled by US-backed forces and is thought to be holding them somewhere south of the Euphrates River.

They say they have executed 10 of their victims, and promised to execute 10 more each day until their demands are met.

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Images circulating on social media reportedly showed the militants holding their victims hostage

Isis have reportedly threatened to kill 10 people a day unless their demands are met, but the demands have not been revealed

The jihadi group have seized the hostages in a part of Syria controlled by US -backed forces and are thought to be holding them somewhere south of the Euphrates River

It has not been specified exactly what they are demanding.


The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has said women and children are thought to be among those captured.

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Speaking in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Putin said the hostages include several US and European nationals, adding that Islamic State was expanding its control in territories on the left bank of the River Euphrates, which is controlled by American troops and US-backed forces.



He said: ‘Islamic State terrorists have delivered ultimatums and made certain demands, threatening to shoot ten people every day.

‘This is just horrible, it is a catastrophe.

Speaking in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Putin said the hostages include several US and European nationals (Picture: EPA)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has said women and children are thought to be among those captured The number of hostages has not been independently verified but images from the region have shown a militant attack

‘Some US and European citizens are among the hostages.

‘They have issued ultimatums, specific demands and warned that if these ultimatums are not met they will execute 10 people every day.

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‘The day before yesterday they executed 10 people.’

He claimed the US failed to respond, but American fighter jets were reportedly seen in the sky.

The number of hostages has not been independently verified but images from the region have shown a militant attack.

Pictures of those who are thought to be the hostages have emerged, with their captors doing the one-fingered salute that has become synonymous with the terrorist group.

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