Islamic State killed 15 civilians who declined to allow snipers at home in Mosul

Islamic State militants have killed 15 civilians in western Mosul for refusing to allow the group’s snipers to position or erect rocket launchers above their residences as Iraqi government forces push deeper against the militant group.
Islamic State has regularly been reported to kill civilians for trying to escape areas under its control in western Mosul or collaborate with security forces since Iraqi forces launched an offensive in February to retake that region.

Al-Arabiya quoted Qusai al-Kanaani, a major from the Iraqi joint forces, saying he believes four Islamic State snipers were deployed at al-Refaie, Zanjili and al-Sihha districts in western Mosul.

Iraqi generals say IS’s reliance on snipers and booby-traps, as well as their entrenchment in the middle of civilians, has slowed down advancement by security troops in central Mosul districts, especially at the narrow streets of the Old City, a strategic area from where Islamic State first declared the establishment of its rule in Iraq in 2014.

Iraqi government forces, backed by a U.S.-led coalition and paramilitary troops, took over eastern Mosul in January after three months of battles.

Source: Iraqi News