A church in a village in Al-Hasakah province, where more than 20,000 Christians still live. Melke Rabo is a commander in the Christian militia Syriac [Assyrian] Military Council, one of the groups fighting back against the “IS” advance. Syriac Military Council members inspect a church which was destroyed when the village was taken over by Jabhat-al Nusra, an al-Qaeda affiliate. A Syriac Military Council soldier rests in a position overlooking “IS” positions. A scene from the Christian neighborhood of Derek in northeastern Syria where Kurds make up most of the population. A funeral service in the city of Derek where Kurds are carving out their own territory. A Syriac Military Council soldier stands in a building recaptured from Islamic State forces. The rebel fighters lack the weaponry and resources to defeat IS permanently. A Syriac Military Council soldier walks among ruins of the Mosque in Tel Marouf, a town recently retaken from IS forces. The Islamic State fighters have left a trail of destruction in many areas, breaking and looting valuable cultural artifacts. May 2015 Source: Aina.org
In Tel Tamer, a town on the lush green banks of the Khabur River in northeastern Syria, a group of rebel fighters – Christians 
[Assyrians] and Kurds – are fighting to stave off an "IS" advance.
