Fighters of the so-called Islamic State are said to be committing atrocities against civilians and former members of the Iraqi police and army in remote parts of the country.
ISIL attacks residents in al-Hudd, kill over 20 civilians
In the village of al-Hudd and elsewhere, ISIL militants are said to have rounded up hostages after a revolt against them to aid the army’s advance.
The locals say the ISIL fighters returned after being pushed back.
“The civilians, they started a revolution then, they killed people from Daesh, approximately 7 to 9, from Daesh,” said Sabry Abdullah, an al-Hudd resident.
According to him, the militants came back “and executed civilians from my village approximately 25, 27 persons.”
A Kurdish politician confirmed that more than 20 people were put to death. Officials in the region also said dozens of prisoners were executed.
Local residents have been fleeing Bashiqa – a key town on the crucial supply route to Mosul.
It’s been besieged by Kurdish forces taking part in the offensive to recapture Mosul from ISIL.