YPG ready for hostage exchange with ISIS

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Leaders of the People’s Protection Units, or YPG, have announced they are ready to exchange prisoners with the Islamic States in an attempt to save the lives of Assyrian Christians held by the militants.

Zohat Kobani, a representative of the Democratic Union Party in Europe, made the announcement in an interview with Swedish News channel TT.  Kobani said at least 600 ISIS members are currently being held by his Syria-based ethnic Kurdish party that oversees the YPG.

Earlier this week, Islamic States fighters attacked a number of Christian-populated towns and villages in Syrian Kurdistan, capturing an estimated 250 Assyrian Christians in Hasaka province. Most of the Assyrian hostages are believed to be children, women and the elderly.

The Assyrian Federation told Rudaw in an earlier interview at least 15 Assyrian hostages were executed after the attack. 

ISIS has yet to comment on a possible prisoner exchange for the Assyrians.