UN:

ISIL Uses Civilians as Human Shields in Battle for Mosul

Rasa - The United Nations said the ISIL terror group has recently executed dozens of civilians and used many more as human shields, as Iraqi forces continue to close in the ISIL-held city of Mosul.

News ID: 424579

Date: 26 October 2016 - 18:45

RNA - “We continue to receive information that reinforces the belief that ISIL militants are deliberately using civilians as human shields, forcing them to move to sites where ISIL fighters are based, or preventing them from leaving other places for strategic reasons,” said Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, ARA News reported.

ISIL reportedly killed 15 civilians in Safina, a village around 45 km South of Mosul. The ISIL threw their bodies in the river, apparently in an attempt to spread terror among the village’s remaining residents.

“On the afternoon of October 19, in the same village, ISIL reportedly tied six civilians to a vehicle by their hands and dragged them around the village, apparently simply because they were related to a particular tribal leader fighting against ISIL,” Coalville said.

He added that the six men were also allegedly beaten with sticks and gun butts. “It is not clear what happened to them subsequently,” Coalville added.

On October 20, Iraqi security forces reportedly discovered the bodies of 70 civilians inside houses in Tuloul Naser village, which is located in the same sub-District, some 35 km South of Mosul City.

“The bodies had bullet wounds, but it is not known for sure at this point who was responsible for the killings,” the OHCHR said.

On October 22, ISIL militants shot dead three women and three young girls, and wounded a further four children from Rufeila village, which is located in the al-Qayyarah sub-District, South of Mosul.

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