A Christian watchdog in Iraq has warned that troops advancing on the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) frontline in Mosul may be about to uncover the site of a mass grave for Christians slaughtered by the terror group during its time in control of the city.
The grim prospect has been offered by the Shlomo Organisation, a body tasked with documenting crimes committed against Christians in Iraq since the rise of ISIS.
According to the local AhlulBayt news agency, Shlomo’s head, Khals Aichoa Barbar has pointed out that of at least 150 Christians abducted by ISIS from towns and villages around Mosul, just 13 have reappeared alive, and only two have been located shot dead.
Murdered
Stating further that Shlomo has knowledge of a mass grave inside the former Baghdad School in Mosul, Basar said his organisation has learned that a number of Christians were murdered there, but added, “we have no knowledge of the number of victims in the grave”. “We are waiting for the liberation of [that part] of the city to document the grave.”
A renewed offensive on the part of the Iraqi army and militias to retake Mosul got underway on February 19, with forces making early gains into the southern fringes of the city. The battle is expected to be a tougher prospect for liberating forces, however, as the western side of the city is not only still heavily populated – some 650,000 civilians are trapped – but the architecture there is older, promising narrow streets through which soldiers must make their way in attempting to dislodge ISIS fighters who have had months to fortify their positions.
However, the officer commanding Iraqi forces has sounded a positive note on the advance, which at the time of reporting, had retaken Mosul’s main airport.
General Abdul Wahab al-Saade insists that the fight against ISIS in west Mosul will be shorter than that in the city’s east as “a lot of them [Isis] have been killed and morale for them is down now”.