Israeli soldiers rescue Yazidi woman jailed by militants in Gaza for 10 years

A Yazidi girl who was kidnapped by ISIS from Iraq in 2014 at the age of 11 and taken to the Gaza Strip has been freed and reunited with her family, reports Times of Israel. The rescue was confirmed by the Israeli and Iraqi foreign ministries.

Sid was kidnapped in 2014 during ISIS attacks on Yazidi communities in Iraq, when the terrorist group took control of large areas of the country. He was later sold by men from Gaza, who were in Iraq at the time.

“Sidova was rescued in a complex operation coordinated by the IDF’s COGAT and the US Embassy in Jerusalem along with other international members of the community,” the Israel Defense Forces said.

According to the IDF, the terrorist holding her captive was recently killed, apparently in an Israeli strike during the fighting in Gaza, allowing the girl to escape. “A young girl was taken out of the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom crossing in a covert operation. After entering Israel, she was taken to Jordan via Allenby Crossing and then to her family in Iraq,” the IDF said.

“The incident provided further evidence of the link between the terrorist group Hamas and the Islamic State and further proof of the crimes against humanity committed by this murderous terrorist group in Gaza,” the Israeli military said.

Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs v publication that Sid was saved thanks to a joint effort in high coordination with the US embassies in Baghdad and the authorities of Amman and Jordan. There was no mention of Israeli involvement.