IS murdered 163 Iraqis who tried to flee western Mosul: UN

MOSUL, Iraq (Kurdistan24) – The United Nations on Tuesday said Islamic State (IS) militants killed over 160 people in Mosul last week to prevent them from escaping insurgent-held areas.

The UN held the militant group responsible for the massacre in western Mosul, where Iraqi security forces supported by the US-led coalition are fighting to finally liberate the city.

According to the UN, the bodies of 163 murdered Iraqis littered the streets after IS shot civilians to prevent them from fleeing.

“The brutality of [IS] and other terrorist groups seemingly knows no bounds,” said Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the UN’s human rights chief.

“Yesterday, my staff reported to me that bodies of murdered Iraqi men, women, and children still lay on the streets of the al-Shira neighborhood of western Mosul,” Hussein added.

The human rights chief delivered the chilling details during an opening address to the UN Human Rights Council.

According to Hussein’s spokesman, Rupert Colville, the killings had taken place on June 1, AFP reported.

After the successful campaign to liberate eastern Mosul ended in January, Iraqi security forces launched a fresh offensive to free the western parts of the city.

In late May, Iraqi troops began advancing on the remaining parts of western Mosul, IS’ last major stronghold in the country.

The UN and other aid groups expressed their concern over the safety of civilians who remained stuck in the city.

On Monday, UNICEF reported they were receiving “alarming reports” of people killed in the crossfire while trying to escape, including children.

They also warned of over 100,000 children who remain trapped in IS-controlled areas, “living under extremely dangerous conditions.”

Editing by G. H. Renaud