The Islamic State militant group has abducted more than 300 workers from a cement factory near Damascus, Syria's state-run news agency SANA reported on Thursday.
Managers of the factory located near the southwest town of al-Dumeir outside Damascus confirmed the abductions, SANA reported, quoting an unnamed industry ministry official.
"The company informed the ministry that it has not been able so far to communicate with any of the abductees," the official said.
The official said the ministry was keeping in contact with the company to try and learn where the cement workers had been taken.
Residents of the town of Jeiroud, near the factory, said they saw around 125 of the abducted workers being transported on IS vehicles that were heading towards Damascus's Eastern Ghouta area, SANA said, quoting local officials.
