IS may use civilians as human shields in Mosul battle, UN warns

Islamic State (IS) fighters may be preparing to use civilians as human shields or simply kill them, rather than allow them to be liberated in an Iraqi offensive to retake Mosul the UN has warned.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein that his office had received reports that civilians were being held close to IS positions in Mosul, possibly to be used as a buffer against advancing Iraqi forces.

“There is a grave danger that ISIL fighters will not only use such vulnerable people as human shields, but may opt to kill them rather than see them liberated,” Zeid said in a statement.

He added that his office had reports that IS fighters had forced around 200 families to walk from the nearby Samalia village to Mosul last week, while another 350 families were forced to walk to the city from Najafia.

Elite Iraqi troops have been closing in on Mosul, the last IS bastion in Iraq, in a long-anticipated offensive.

Iraq’s Grand Ayattolah Ali al-Sistani on Friday renewed his call on soldiers to spare civilians.

“All those who are participating in the battle have to respect the humanitarian principles and refrain from seeking vengeance,” said a sermon delivered in Sistani’s name by one of his representatives in Kerbala.