In an exodus of almost biblical proportions, thousands trudge across a river to escape killers belonging to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS. Entire families carry nothing but the clothes on their backs. Some are barefoot. Jamal Jamir, a 23-year-old university student from Sinjar, told CNN his family fled to the barren and windswept Mount Sinjar more than a week ago after ISIS captured their town. The group, which calls itself the Islamic State, has been on a rampage, killing members of various minorities, including Yazidis. Jamir said after ISIS arrived in his town, Arab neighbors of his turned on the minorities and helped ISIS kill. "They join them, and actually they kill us."
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Officials estimate 10,000-20,000 Yazidis on Mount Sinjar
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ISIS has captured more villages in Syria, activists say
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"They join them, and actually they kill us," a Yazidi says of Arab residents
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Yazidis' loved ones in Israel and U.S. fear for them
Sinjar
Mount Sinjar
Mount Sinjar
His family escaped to @placeholder on foot and made a marathon 15-hour journey to Syria.
Sinjar
Mount Sinjar
Mount Sinjar
"A few thousand" are moving in the direction of @placeholder from their villages, the official said.
Iraq
While U.S. airstrikes have helped the fight against ISIS in @placeholder, the United States has not taken such action over ISIS-controlled areas in Syria.
Sinjar
Mount Sinjar
Mount Sinjar
It's unclear what lies ahead for those who managed to escape ISIS and @placeholder.
Yazidis
Yazidi
Yazidis
Then the helicopter landed and was rushed by @placeholder seeking to escape.
Israel
He made it into @placeholder with his six-month old son who needed life-saving heart surgery -- just days before ISIS overran his village, where his wife and four other children were left behind.