Militants of the extremist Islamic State in Iraq and al Sham (ISIS) continue to occupy the north-eastern province of Raqqa holding its entire population hostage. The Syrian Coalition is extremely concerned over reports that the group has imposed taxes on electricity, water, and other public services and carried out summary executions in the city. Activist accounts told of victims of the group being crucified, in a shocking and outrageous display of dominance.

The Assad regime has infiltrated ISIS by giving pro-Assad fighters from Iraq access to false identities which facilitated their entry to Syria to join ISIS. The Syrian Coalition has repeatedly warned against the double threat caused by the collusion between the extremist ISIS and the terrorist Assad regime.

FSA managed to push ISIS out of large swathes in northern Syria including Aleppo and Idlib. However, the shortage of weapons and ammunition makes it hard for FSA to launch an all-out operation to kick the extremist group out of Raqqa, and save the people there, who are facing the horrors of extremism on a daily basis. Friends of Syria need to provide military support to FSA as it tries to defend the Syrian people against the terror of two evils.

May our wounded recover, our detainees be free, and our fallen heroes rest in peace.

Long live Syria and its people, free and with honor.