Iraqi Kurdish fighters have discovered a mass grave containing about 100 decapitated bodies near Mosul as they advance toward Bashiqa to reclaim it from the Islamic State.
Troops have been pushing to reclaim Bashiqa as part of a greater effort to get ISIS out of Mosul, which it has occupied along with other areas of Iraq since mid-2014. Numerous massacres have been carried out by ISIS militants throughout their occupation, and they often release photos and videos of the aftermath online.
According to The Associated Press, Bashiqa is believed to be deserted except for ISIS fighters, making it a good target to attack without worrying about civilian casualties. Retaking Bashiqa will give Iraqi soldiers a better position with which to attack Mosul later.
The mass grave was discovered in the School of Agriculture outside the town of Hammam al-Alil, which Kurdish forces retook from ISIS on Monday. A forensics team from Baghdad plans to investigate the site Tuesday, the AP reported.
Mosul is Iraq’s second most populated city after Baghdad with 1.2 million residents.
As Iraqi special forces begin to infiltrate the edges of the city, more than 30,000 residents have been displaced, according to CNN. In some areas, ISIS soldiers are forcing families to stay in populated areas to discourage Kurdish soldiers from engaging with them.
Liberating soldiers are expecting booby-trapped buildings and tunnels for escape due to the fact that ISIS has had two years to prepare for the battle.
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