World Bulletin / News Desk

Four Afghans held captive by Syrian opposition fighters and who say they were paid by Iran to fight in Syria have called on the Assad regime and Hezbollah in a video message to exchange hostages.

The four were taken hostage earlier this week in Daraa city, about 90 kilometers south of the Syrian capital of Damascus.

Opposition forces say they killed 10 Afghan nationals and took four hostage.

Mir Abdullahguli, one of the four fighters, says that he was born in Afghanistan’s Belh city but grew up in Teheran’s Veramin district.

In a video secured by The Anadolu Agency, Abdulahguli, who says he came to Syria to protect the Zeyneb Tomb (Zeyneb was the daughter of Imam Ali, and granddaughter of Prophet Mohamed) says: “They (Iran) gave me about $500 … if we add the cigarette money, the amount reaches about $600.”

He called on the Assad regime and Fatimiyya Brigade to exchange hostages with the Syrian opposition forces.

Another hostage, Haydar Muhammedi, also made the same call, and said he travelled from Afghanistan to Iran before going on to Damascus.

He said the group had been taken hostage by the Cephet Ul Mucahidin Brigade and called on the Assad regime and Hezbollah organization to make the exchange of hostages as soon as possible.

He said the Cephet Ul Mucahidin Brigade also wanted to exchange hostages with the Assad regime.