VIDEO: Iraqi forces find Ezidi jail cells in west Mosul

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Iraqi forces have discovered jail cells in west Mosul where the Islamic State (IS) kept Ezidi women prisoners for the past three years.

In a statement released on Sunday by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, Iraqi forces said they found the prison in the 17 Tammuz district, which they regained in May.

The Iraqi Army did not provide further details.

On Saturday, an Ezidi family was reunited with their 5-year-old daughter who spent three years under IS captivity.

In August 2014, Ezidis suffered the worst massacres at the hands of the insurgent group when it invaded the Ezidi-town of Sinjar (Shingal).

The attack prompted thousands to flee toward the Kurdistan Region and other areas.

Others were left stranded, and hundreds of them kidnapped by IS, especially women and children, and kept captive for the past two years.

Over 3,000 Ezidis have been rescued from IS, but thousands are still in the grip of the militants.

The fate of dozens of Ezidi women and children remains unknown since they were abducted by IS and taken to their strongholds of Mosul and Raqqa.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany