Another mass grave found at a road southeast of Kirkuk
This image released by the the Mass Graves Directorate of the Kurdish Regional Government shows a human skull in a mass grave containing Yazidis killed by Islamic State militants in the Sinjar region of northern Iraq in May, 2015. An analysis by The Associated Press has found 72 mass graves left behind by Islamic State extremists in Iraq and Syria, and many more are expected to be discovered as the group loses territory. (Kurdish Mass Graves Directorate via AP)
Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) Another mass grave containing the relics of people executed by the Islamic State militants was found Wednesday in Kirkuk, a local source was quoted saying.
Alsumaria News quoted the source saying that a security force found a mass grave containing the relics of tens of civilians at Laylan’s “international road” southeast of the city of Kirkuk.
“A government committee of Kirkuk’s administration and human rights representatives will visit the grave,” the source said, adding that the grave is very big and that related details will be released after it is officially opened up.
On Tuesday, news reports quoted security officials saying that a mass grave was found inside oil wells near Kirkuk.
As Iraqi troops recaptured areas held by Islamic State militants since October 2016, they have regularly run into mass graves of civilians and security agents executed by militants for fleeing the group’s havens or collaborating with security forces.
Iraq’s war against the Islamic State displaced at least five million civilians and left thousands dead. The United Nations accuses IS of committing deeds that mount to war crimes.