The Islamic
State terrorist group has killed over 400 people around Mosul and
transported many others into the city to use as human shield, a UN
human rights spokesperson said.
Among those
killed are some 50 fighters who deserted during the battle for the
Kokjali neighborhood east of Mosul a few days ago, Ravina Shamdasani
said on Friday. Before withdrawing, the militants executed 180 former
Iraqi government officials, she said. The terrorists also executed
some 200 other civilians inside the city, Shamdasani added.
The
spokesperson said Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) has
transported 1,600 people from the town of Hammam al-Alil to Tal Afar,
possibly for use as human shields against airstrikes. They also took
150 families from Hammam al-Alil to Mosul on Wednesday.
The UN
official said IS ordered Hammam al-Alil residents to hand over boys
above age nine, indicating a recruitment drive for child soldiers.
In
mid-October, the Iraqi army and other opponents of IS launched an
operation to retake Mosul, the terrorist’s stronghold in Iraq. The
operation is yet to enter the urban warfare phase.
The UN-led
coalition is providing air support in Mosul, and the UN has cited
reports of civilians being killed in several airstrikes, one of which
targeted the al Qudus neighborhood in eastern Mosul on Wednesday,
killing four women and injured 17 other civilians.
The US
insists that it is doing its best to avoid civilian deaths and
seriously investigates all reports of such casualties. However, the
situation on the ground makes it difficult to either investigate
alleged civilian deaths or independently confirm the Pentagon
conducting such investigations.
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