(VOVworld) - Islamic State militants are believed to have kidnapped 344 Syrian workers from a private cement factory near Damascus, the Syrian government announced on Wednesday. IS stormed the factory in Dumair town in northeastern Damascus, and took the abductees to an unknown destination on Monday. All the hostages were civilians.
The Syrian air force sent a drone to check the location and found the factory empty of people, and machinery appeared to have been plundered.
The kidnap coincided with attacks on the military zone near Dumair military airport.
IS posted a statement online claiming responsibility for a suicide bombing attack on government officials travelling from Dumair airport to the north. Control of Dumair is being contested by Syrian army and Islamic factions.