U.N.: 'Barbaric' Islamic State indiscriminately killing civilians amid Mosul fight

The United Nations said the Islamic State has intensified its brutality against civilians since the start of the Iraqi, Kurdish and U.S.-led coalition offensive to retake Mosul.


The Islamic State has moved hundreds of civilians from surrounding villages into Mosul to use as human shields, the United Nations said, adding that the militant Islamist group has killed at least 200 civilians.

In one incident, the Islamic State -- also known as Daesh, ISIS and ISIL -- executed 15 civilians in the village of Safina, located about 28 miles south of Mosul, in order to terrify other residents.

The United Nations said it is receiving reports of extrajudicial and summary executions of women, children and men. U.N. Human Rights spokesman Rupert Colville said verifying reports of such atrocities is difficult and they are being vetted by U.N. monitors, but he added that the cruelty seen in preliminary reports is shocking.
 [upi.com]
26/10/16