. >> reporter: the rebels launcheed and the people in the area are a large of islam to which the president belongs. they languaged to push government forces out of the district from a strategic post from which opposition forces shelled opposition strongholds. they moved closer to the town and bear down on the coastal city itself. it was only after they recaptured the village that human rights watch was able to reenter. video appears it show them going house-to-house in the villages. human rights watch said that it was then that abuses took place, including murder and kidnapping. we did identify that over 20 groups participated in the operation that began august 4th in the countryside. but the five groups were principally involved in the planning and commanding of the operation. >> reporter: those groups are mainly made up of foreign fighters, as well as al qaeda and the force. those groups and are still holding some 200 hostages. the vast majority, william and children. the accusations and killings are not the first of their kind. human rights watch blamed them for killing 260 villagers in