The Islamic State jihadist group on Tuesday released 270 of an estimated 400 civilians, most of them women and children, who were kidnapped on the weekend in the eastern Syrian city of Deir Ezzor, Reuters reported.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the freeing of the citizens but also said at the same time that ISIS jihadists rounded up another 50 men on Tuesday during raids on houses in areas seized during four days of fighting in the city.
Rami Abdulrahman, the Observatory's head, said that the group has kept male prisoners between the ages of 14 and 55 for more questioning.
"Those who they see have ties with the regime will be punished and those who do not must undertake a religious course based on the group's interpretation of Islam," he said, according to Reuters.