On 12 May 2016 , militants of the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham attacked and captured the Alawite village of Zara'a , Southern Hama Governorate . The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that civilians had been kidnapped and the Red Crescent confirmed that 42 civilians and seven NDF militiamen were killed during the militant attack . Additionally , some pro-Syrian government news sources reported that around 70 civilians , including women and children were kidnapped and taken to Al-Rastan Plains . Some of the captured were pro-government troops . A number of houses were destroyed and local property was looted following the rebel capture of the village , according to a pro-government blog
attacked and captured
Zara'a attack
Human rights violations during the Syrian Civil War