Syria urges international community to join efforts against militant

The Syrian Foreign and Expatriates Ministry on Friday addressed two identical letters to the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UN Security Council about the heinous crimes that armed terrorist organizations affiliated to Daesh are committing against Syrian civilians in Hasaka countryside, SANA reported.
The ministry said that in a recent sweep, Daesh had attacked several districts in the countryside of Hasaka province.
Many civilians were killed and over 200 civilians including children and women were kidnapped. More than 690 families were displaced and religious places were destroyed, the letters said, citing the torching of Tal Hermez historic church, one of the oldest in Syria and the world.
The ministry said that these crimes are only the tip of the iceberg of atrocities committed against Syrian people and an attempt to sow mischief, hatred and estrangement among compatriots.
"These crimes are a continuation of the atrocities of armed terrorist organizations which targeted religious places, places of worship, shrines, historical and cultural landmarks with a view to inflicting as much damage as possible on Syria's heritage," the letters noted.
"The Syrian government stresses that these terrorist acts could not have been possible without the direct support provided for these groups by countries known to all," the letters added.
"Syria believes that it is now imperative for international community and the anti-terrorism countries to compel states which are backing terrorism against Syria to cease their support," the Syrian Foreign ministry said.
"The international community is called on to prove adherence to its counter-terrorism commitments through full cooperation and coordination with Syria which is preventing the spread of international terrorism," added the letters.