Hasake, Syria (AINA) -- At least 3 Assyrians have been kidnapped recently from their villages in Hasake, Syria. Two of the victims are young men and the kidnappers have asked for at least 100,000 USD in ransom for each. The third victim is a 17 year-old girl who was snatched from her street after 4 men, believed to be Kurds, assaulted her 16 year-old brother, knocked him out, and drove off with her.

Violence against Assyrians has sharply risen in the last 12 months, much of it perpetrated by the rebel militia, especially by the Jihadist elements of the rebels, this despite the fact that Assyrians have officially supported the rebel militia (AINA 10-27-2012).

The New Assyrian Quarter in Aleppo has been attacked three times in the last four weeks (AINA 11-20-2012). On November 15 four missiles struck the village of Tel Nasri (AINA 11-15-2012).