Islamic State executes nine civilians over collaboration with security in Kirkuk

Islamic State militants executed on Monday nine men from Hawija district and areas in its vicinity over collaboration with security services, security source was quoted as saying.

“IS members shot five men dead and executed four others, who were arrested two days ago over spying for security services and the paramilitary troops,” the source told the German news agency DPA. The executions took place near the Great Zab river in Hawija, a strategic town which has fallen into the hands of IS since mid-2014.

Islamic State has executed hundreds of civilians and security members since it took over large areas in Iraq to proclaim a self-styled “Islamic Caliphate”. The executions of the victims were mainly blamed over accusations of collaboration with the Iraqi security authorities or for attempting to flee areas under its control.

Kirkuk has a mixed population of Kurds, Turkmens and Arabs. The southern and western regions in the province have been under IS control since June 2014.

Iraqi authorities postponed an operation to liberate the town last year, instead they moved onto Mosul, the group’s biggest bastion in Iraq. It is expected to aim at liberating IS-held regions in the province once done with operations in Mosul.

Source: Iraqi News