VIDEO: IS transferred kidnapped women to western Mosul: Iraqi soldier

MOSUL, Iraq (Kurdistan24) – The so-called Islamic State (IS) transferred a group of kidnapped women to the west coast of the Tigris River in Mosul, said a Yezidi (Ezidi) soldier on Saturday.

Last week, as part of the Mosul offensive to retake the city from IS, Iraqi forces liberated the neighborhood of Muhandiseen in the center of the city.

The security forces also pushed the extremist group to the west of the Tigris River which divides Mosul in half.

Ziyad, a Kurdish Ezidi soldier from the Iraqi Golden Forces, told Kurdistan24 correspondent Hoshmand Sadiq the IS insurgents moved the captive women to the west side of the city while leaving the neighborhood.

According to him, the women were from different parts of Iraq and Syria, including Ezidis. 

“[IS] was insulting, raping, and selling them in their markets as slaves,” Ziyad continued. “This was what they were doing.”

He also mentioned most of the IS extremists who fought in the neighborhood were Russian nationals.

Moreover, residents of the area confirmed the IS militants were bringing women to a house in the neighborhood on a daily basis.

In the video below, Sadiq explores the house where women’s clothes remain scattered on the floor.

Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi forces launched the Mosul operation on Oct. 17, 2016, to clear the city from the militant group.

So far, they have liberated half of Mosul, and the operation is ongoing. 

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany