ISIS fighters attacked the central Syrian village of Mabuja today, killing at least 44 people, including 37 innocent civilians. Most of the civilians were executed as ISIS fighters were withdrawing from the village, in Hama Province.
ISIS has been trying to expand into the Hama and Homs Provinces, mostly held by the Syrian military at this point, and today’s attack seemed to be a hit and run attack, as they withdrew more or less as soon as Syrian troops showed up at the village.
ISIS fighters stabbed several of the victims to death, while others were beheaded and a handful were burned. Mabuja is a village mostly Christian, with some Alawites and Ismailis living there as well.
ISIS, like all the rebel factions in Syria, has been keen to hit both Christians and the various Shi’ite Muslim offshoots in the country, since President Assad is himself Alawite. They have often accused the Christians of being pro-regime, which is largely the case now since everyone else is attacking the Christians.