INTRODUCTION

Fighters with Islamic State (IS) launched a surprise attack on the Syrian city of Sweida and nearby villages on July 25, 2018, killing at least 240 people and injuring more than 170. During the attack, IS fighters kidnapped 30 people from towns in eastern Sweida, comprising 22 female captives, women and girls, and eight male captives, mostly children, but including one young man, according to local reports. Following the attack, videos circulated on social media that showed a number of people, ostensibly in captivity, who were described as those captives.

The videos were sent to family members of the captives to begin and then maintain a process of negotiation with the Syrian government.