Islamic State execute 10 civilians for escaping the western Mosul districts
Islamic State militants executed ten civilians on Monday for attempting to flee districts under their control in western Mosul as security forces begin assaulting those areas.
A local source told Alsumaria News that the group executed the civilians for attempting to flee the 17 Tamuz (July 17th) district and for collaboration with security forces. The source added the the group filed the execution process which had been sanctioned by the groups so-called Sharia court.
Iraqi forces began a new push towards four western Mosul districts which remain under IS control, including 17 Tamuz district. Government forces recaptured eastern Mosul in January, an launched a new offensive in February to retake the western side of the city.
IS has executed hundreds of civilians for cooperating with security forces and fleeing its domains in the city. The conflict in Mosul has so far displaced 600.000 people, while 400.000 are feared stranded in inhumane conditions under IS captivity in the region.
Iraqi generals say they control 70 percent of the western side of Mosul, and that the total of territory held by IS in Iraq is less than seven percent.
The government troops are still struggling to purge the Old City, home of the Grand Nuri Mosque where Islamic State supreme leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared the establishment of the group in 2014.
Coalition commanders estimate the number of remaining IS fighters in Mosul by less than 1000. While those are facing at least 100.000 government and paramilitary soldiers, it is their deployment within civilian communities that has delayed the elimination of the group.
Source: Iraqi News
