The International Committee of the Red Cross says gunmen in northern Syria have kidnapped six Red Cross aid workers and a member of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.
The ICRC said the kidnapping happened near the town of Saraqeb in Idlib province late Sunday morning, as the seven aid workers were driving back to Damascus in several vehicles. It said the group had been on a medical assistance mission in Idlib.
The Syrian state news agency SANA said gunmen opened fire on the convoy before seizing the aid workers. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
The ICRC did not disclose the nationalities of the six Red Cross workers. It called for the immediate release of all seven hostages.
Kidnappings have become increasingly common in northern Syria, where rebels fighting the Syrian government have captured large areas, VOA informs.
