Iraqi forces found 27 civilians bodies in Mosul mass grave

Iraqi soldiers patrol a street on January 22, 2017 next to a church on the northern outskirt of Mosul, which was destroyed by the Daesh terrorist group. (Photo by AFP)

Iraqi forces have found a mass grave in the liberated parts of Mosul containing the bodies of 27 civilians slain by Daesh terrorists.

Brigadier Zanoun al-Sabawi of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command said there were signs of torture on the bodies discovered in al-Rashidiya district in northeastern Mosul on Sunday.

The official further said the ID cards of the victims were also found in the grave, adding that Iraqi forces transferred the corpses to a nearby medical center to deliver them to their families.

Iraqi army soldiers, supported by fighters from pro-government Popular Mobilization Units, commonly known by the Arabic word, Hashd al-Sha’abi, and Kurdish Peshmerga forces, launched a joint operation on October 17, 2016, to retake Mosul from Daesh terrorists.

The Iraqi army announced in a statement on January 22 that all districts of eastern Mosul had been cleared of Daesh militants.

Daesh still maintains firm control over the western quarter of Mosul, the terror group’s last remaining stronghold in the country.

Reports say Iraqi armed forces are now gearing up for a new phase of the liberation operation. Senior commanders are devising a strategy to deal with the terrorists the western sector of Mosul.

The United Nations estimates that some 750,000 civilians are trapped in the militant-held areas.

A number of other mass graves have been found by Iraqi forces in the areas taken back from Daesh Takfiris.

Late in 2016, a mass grave, containing the remains of 40 people, was uncovered in the embattled city. Reports said most of those found in the area in the outskirts of Tal al-Dhahab villag