IS abducts 230 people in Syria

Islamic State (IS) militants have abducted about 230 people in al-Qaryatayn, in the central Homs province, UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said on Friday.

"Daesh (IS) kidnapped at least 230 people, including 60 Christians, during a sweep through Al-Qaryatain," SOHR's chief Rami Abdel Rahman said,

The monitoring group said that they were kidnapped according to name lists, and that some of them were arrested at Dar Alyan monastery where unknown militiamen kidnapped the pontiff Jack Mrad, who was the head of monastery, 10 weeks ago.

The Islamic group gained full control of the town on Wednesday.

Qaryatain is near a road linking the ancient city of Palmyra to the Qalamoun mountains, along the border with Lebanon from where IS combatants were repelled in June.

Read more - IS destroys ancient statue in Syrian Palmyra

Clashes between the regime forces and allied militiamen against IS militants are ongoing between the city of al- Qaryatayn and the town of Mahin, in the southeast of Homs.

Nearly 18,000 people, including Sunni Muslims and Christians, lived in al-Qaryatayn before fighting began, with only about 300 left.

Also read:

Syrian army regains control over Jazal oil field

British police to chase family suspected of joining IS