Islamic State Using Tens of Thousands as Human Shields in Mosul

A 30,000-strong force, backed by the USA military and made up of Iraqi security forces personnel, Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, Sunni Arab tribesmen and Shia militiamen are fighting up to up to 5,000 ISIS jihadists who are believed to be defending Mosul. The involvement of the Shiite militias has raised concerns the battle could aggravate sectarian divisions. Turkey fears that the use of Shiite militias in the US -backed offensive on Mosul will lead to sectarian strife in the mainly Sunni region and cause an exodus of refugees.

With air and ground support from the US-led coalition, Iraqi government forces and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters captured about 50 villages south, east and north of Mosul, according to military statements.

Iraqi troops and security forces edged closer to Mosul on two southern fronts on Sunday but a leader of the Shiite militias newly participating in the offensive warned that the battle for ISIS’ Iraq stronghold would be long and gruelling. Shias fled the town when Isis overran the region in 2014, declaring a caliphate over parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria.

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, commanding general of the anti-Islamic State Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, said coalition forces have conducted more than 2,100 air, artillery and mortar attacks. He says the vehicles were unoccupied and far enough away from the civilians to ensure none were harmed.

“Tel Afar is an entirely Turkmen town. if Hashd al-Shaabi starts terrorizing it, then our response will certainly be different”, Erdogan said. He added that “this is easy, because there are no civilians left”.

But hours later, a few families who had hunkered down during the fighting emerged. Mosul is still home to more than a million people.

By the afternoon, Brig.

Citing reports which had “been corroborated to the extent possible”, Shamdasani stressed that the number of people killed could be much higher.

The ISIS fighters face a 90,000-strong force of Iraqi government troops, Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and irregular militia soldiers – but have had plenty of time to prepare their defenses. Iraqi forces are advancing from several directions, but are still well outside the city itself. From the south, Iraqi security forces have moved within about 10 miles of the city, according to the Pentagon.

The office reported another 24 former Iraqi security forces officers were reportedly killed on Tuesday and since October 17, ISIS has abducted tens of thousands of men, women, and children from Mosul and its outlying cities.

The militants have carried out mass killings of perceived opponents in the past and boasted about them in grisly photos and videos circulated online.