IS easily turns people into human shields in Mosul city

According to AFP, in a move confirming the United Nations' concerns, witnesses said on November 2 that the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) group was rounding up civilians in and around the city of Mosul, possibly to use them as human shields to block the advance of Iraqi forces.

Iraqis flee IS-controlled areas near Qayara, south of Mosul on November 1. (Source: AP/VNA)

Abu Yunes, a resident of East Mosul, said IS jihadists had forced people, especially young people, to gather in schools in the area, but most people did not obey for fear that IS would use them as human shields.

Meanwhile, Abu Mohammed, a resident in western Mosul, said IS had gathered many people from areas in southern Mosul and forced them to move to the city.

According to Abu Mohammed, IS intended to blend in with these residents when security forces entered and then flee.

IS seized large swaths of territory north and west of the capital Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces have since retaken much of the area, and Mosul is the last Iraqi city still under IS control.

Baghdad launched a large-scale operation to retake control of Mosul from IS more than two weeks ago and Iraqi forces have now advanced to the eastern suburbs of the city./.

According to Vietnam+