IS uses Mosul locals ‘as human shields’

ISLAMIC State appears to be using tens of thousands of people as human shields in and around Mosul, where Iraqi forces are waging a large-scale offensive aimed at retaking the country’s second largest city, the UN human rights office has said.

The High Commissioner For Human Rights has also received reports of more than 200 people being killed for refusing to comply with IS orders or previously belonging to Iraqi security forces.

It said “credible reports” suggest IS has been forcing tens of thousands into Mosul from their nearby homes.

Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said in Geneva: “Isil’s depraved, cowardly strategy is to attempt to use the presence of civilian hostages to render certain points, areas or military forces immune from military operations, effectively using tens of thousands of women, men and children as human shields.”

IS militants were reportedly going door to door in villages south of Mosul this week, ordering hundreds of civilians at gunpoint on a forced march into the city.

Ms Shamdasani said: “Many of those who refused to comply were shot on the spot, and even among those who did comply, many of them – including 190 former ISF (Iraqi security forces) officers and 42 other civilians – were shot dead.”

Those killings reportedly happened on Wednesday, and another 24 former officers with the ISF were reportedly killed on Tuesday.