NINEVEH, Iraq

Iraqi forces on Tuesday uncovered a mass grave in northern Iraq, according to an Iraqi military officer.

“The grave contains the remains of 73 civilians” killed by Daesh militants in Sinjar, west of Mosul, Capt. Jamal al-Daoudi told Anadolu Agency.

He said the victims included six children, 23 women and 13 old men.

“The victims were Ezidis, who had been killed by Daesh after the terrorist group captured Sinjar,” al-Daoudi said.

Sinjar is the traditional home of the Ezidis, a Kurdish ethno-religious community who are dominant in the Nineveh Province in northern Iraq.

In August, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced the liberation of Nineveh province from Daesh terrorist group after a nine-month military campaign.

Reporting by Ahmed Qassim:Writing by Mahmoud Barakat