16 civilians found dead in Mosul's Old City
The civilians were likely killed after attempting to flee Daesh-held areas in western Mosul
file photo
By Serhad Shaker and Ibrahim Salih
NINEVEH, Iraq
Sixteen civilian bodies were found in the Old City of Mosul amid a major offensive to oust Daesh militants from the northern Iraqi city, according to a local police officer.
"The bodies had gunshot wounds," Rapid Response Forces officer, lieutenant Karim al-Nuaimi, told Anadolu Agency on Sunday.
He said the civilians were likely killed after attempting to flee Daesh-held areas in western Mosul.
In a related development, Daesh militants shot dead two civilians while trying to flee Bab Laksh area in western Mosul to government-held areas in the city, military officer Khalid Ali said.
In February, Iraqi ground forces -- backed by U.S.-led coalition air power -- began fresh operations aimed at ousting Daesh militants from western Mosul, the terrorist group’s last bastion in northern Iraq.
The offensive is part of a wider campaign launched last October to retake the entire city, which Daesh overran in mid-2014.
