The "Islamic State" miliant group has "shot and killed" civilians fleeing Fallujah, said the Norwegian Refugee Council. Around 50,000 civilians are trapped in the city center, according to Iraqi officials.
Image: picture alliance/AP Photo/M. Alleruzzo
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Iraqi forces on Sunday discovered a mass grave containing the remains of approximately 400 people near the city of Fallujah, where government troops launched an offensive against the "Islamic State" (IS) militant group.
"The security forces of the federal police, the army and the Hashed al-Shaabi (militia) found a mass grave in the Shuhada neighborhood during a mine clearing operation," a police colonel in the Anbar province, where Fallujah is located, told Reuters news agency.
"The mass grave contains about 400 bodies of members of the (Iraqi) military. There are also some civilians," the colonel said, on condition of anonymity.
Rajeh Barakat, a member of the Anbar provincial council, also confirmed the discovery, saying the civilians were executed by the militant group "on various charges, such as spying or breaking the organization's rules."
Iraqi forces launched an offensive to retake Fallujah in late May, which lies around 50 kilometers (31 miles) west of the nation's capital Baghdad. The dense city gained notoriety in 2004 when US soldiers suffered some of their worst losses.
Since then, IS has gained control of Fallujah, becoming one of the militant group's emblematic bastions.
Iraqi officials said the offensive slowed down due to the number of civilians trapped in IS-controlled areas.
What is 'IS'?
Ravaging Syria and Iraq, the terrorist organization "Islamic State" frequently makes it into the news due to its brutality. But who are they? And how strong are they? We've compiled answers to the most important FAQs.
What is 'Islamic State'?
A breakaway from terrorist organization al Qaeda, "Islamic State" is a Sunni militant group that is believed to have formed in response to disillusionment and frustration due to the failed rule of governments in Syria and Iraq. Its flag reads "Muhammad is the prophet of God" and "There is no god apart from Allah" - lines that are valid for all Muslims, not just "IS."
Image: AP
Where is the 'Islamic State' active?
The "Islamic State" aims to create a "caliphate" - a state where the traditional values of Islam and Sharia law must be adhered to. Due to the instability of regions in Syria and Iraq, the "Islamic State" has been able to capture land in the two countries.
What makes the 'Islamic State' different?
A key difference is the brutality "Islamic State" has used to strike fear into its enemies and innocents by cruel beheadings and ruthless violence. In contrast to this, it is said to govern the regions it takes over. As Middle East expert Shadi Hamid told PBS: "They provide social services. They run local government. They provide some modicum of law and order."
Image: gebphotography - Fotolia.com
How does 'Islamic State' relate to other terrorist groups?
Though "IS" is active in Syria and Iraq, the Nigerian terrorist organization Boko Haram recently declared its support. It's like a competition in cruelty: while Boko Haram is responsible for 13,000 deaths, "IS" has injured or killed at least 24,000 people. Terrorist group al Qaeda has distanced itself from "IS" with its offshoot Nusra Front even fighting against "IS".
Image: Getty Images/A. Katib
What about its followers?
Something else that distinguishes the "IS" is its followers. More than 20,000 foreign fighters have joined the group, with more than 4,000 come from Western Europe and North America, according to an ICSR report. Here are the countries where most people have gone to fight. But, there are more fighters per capita heading to fight from some smaller countries like Sweden and Belgium.
What are Western governments doing to stop 'Islamic State'?
Since August 2014, a US-led coalition has carried out airstrikes on "Islamic State" targets in Syria (1,422 strikes) and Iraq (2,242 strikes), according to a BBC report. Some governments have also been active within their own countries: Germany is set to prosecute at least 30 suspected militants returning from Syria, while Saudi Arabia, for example, arrested 93 suspected militants in April 2015.
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Civilians 'shot and killed'
Out of the 18,000 people who have reached displacement camps south of the city, only a few of them lived in Fallujah.
Many of those who arrived at the camp reported the militant group opening fire on them as they fled the city.
"An unidentified number of civilians have been shot and killed trying to cross the river," said a statement from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
"This is the worst that we feared would happen to innocent men, women and children, who have had to leave everything behind in order to save their lives," said Nasr Muflahi, the NRC's director for operations in Iraq.
Some 50,000 civilians are believed to be trapped in the city's center, where the militant group has amassed, officials said.
