ISIS Beheads 3 Iraqi Soldiers, Kills 26 Civilians in Siege of Ancient Syrian City Palmyra

ISIS
ISIS beheads an Iraqi soldier in public execution. IBC World News

Militants belonging to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) on Thursday killed 26 civilians in the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria after the Muslim radicals took control of some of the villages there after fighting government forces, Alarabiya.net reported quoting sources from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman commented, "Daesh executed 26 civilians, including at least 10 by beheading, after accusing them of collaborating with the Syrian regime." Daesh is the Arabic acronym for ISIS.

An international team of observers has warned that several UNESCO world heritage sites are threatened with destruction if Palmyra falls completely under the militants hands. ISIS has destroyed a significant number of world heritage sites from territories the group controls in Iraq.

In a separate report, IBCWorld News has confirmed that ISIS bandits beheaded three Iraqi soldiers suspected of spying for Baghdad in a public execution. The report said the group has released several pictures taken in the north-west Iraqi province of Nineveh showing three men being read of their charges and sentenced to death while masked ISIS gunmen stood guard.

The soldiers could be seen kneeling with heads bow before an executioner struck their necks with a sword. ISIS' self-declared caliphate saw a rise in the number of public beheadings, stonings and other barbaric forms of killings in the region.

ISIS militants are trying enforce a strict implementation of Sharia law in areas under its control, across a large swathe of land in Iraq and Syria. The militants carry out public executions and physical mutilation to any person charged with crimes.

The strict Sharia law practiced by the Islamic militants has victimized men accused of being gay to be thrown from rooftops and stone to death any person accused of committing adultery.  Suspected thieves have their hands chopped off.

The report also quoted the Kurdish news agency  Rudaw as telling a Yazidi member of the Iraqi parliament identified as Sheikh Shamo, that ISIS militants have been using Yazidi slave children as jihadi soldiers and sometimes as suicide bombers to carry out attacks.

Shamo was quoted as saying, "ISIS has established military training camps for the Yezidi children held by the group in the Syrian city of Raqqa and Tal Afar in Mosul. Over the past months, many Yezidi women, children and elders managed to escape in various ways and have arrived in the Kurdistan region, but we still believe more than 3,000 Yezidis remain in the hands of ISIS."

Meanwhile, a new short video emerged Thursday that aims to raise awareness about the origin of Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism that is sweeping across the Middle East. The 97-second video also provides an insight on how Islamic terrorism emerged within Iran.

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.