Around 100 civilians abducted while fleeing Mosul town
Security forces evacuate the civilians from liberated areas. Archival photo.
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Around 100 men were abducted from Hatra city, south of Mosul, after they fled to Hamam al-Alil town, an official has said.
In remarks on Sunday, Ali al-Saleh, an official from the city, said “unidentified militias were behind the abduction”.
Other sources reported that more than 250 displaced persons were kidnapped by the paramilitary troops of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Public Mobilization Units)in Hamam al-Alil.
According to Iraqi activists, PMUs have been kidnapping civilians including men, women and children after being able to gain control on regions that were held by Islamic State militants.
On Thursday, PMUs announced liberation of Hatra after an offensive was launched on Tuesday to cut off the IS routes between Hawija, Mosul and eastern Syria.
Meanwhile, Ali al-Ahmadi, another official from Hatra, told Shafaq News that more than 100 civilians were arrested by al-Hashd al-Ashaeri (Tribal Mobilization) forces, while they were on their way toward Hamam al-Alil camps taking them to unknown destination.
An official from the tribal militias said the arrests included people who had links to Islamic State, refusing to give further details.
The tribal sunni militias are claimed to be backed by the Iraqi government to control lands recaptured from Islamic State.