Mosul battle: ISIS takes human shield

Tens of thousands of men,
women and children have been
snatched from their homes and
forced into the center of Mosul as
the battle intensified yesterday to
drive ISIS out of Iraq’s secondlargest
city.

The intent is sinister: Using civilians
as human shields is ISIS’s attempt
to hold onto the city, the jewel
of its self-proclaimed caliphate.
No one expected the militants to
surrender Mosul without a hellish
fight. But for Iraqis still living under
ISIS control in the city and surrounding
areas, every option now
is grim.

They can try to flee but be
branded by ISIS as “apostates,”
for which the penalty is death. Or
they can potentially be seen as ISIS
sympathizers in a new place and
risk becoming victims of revenge
crimes.

They can try to hold out and survive
the fierce fighting ahead. Or they
can be forced further into the heart of
Mosul and serve as human shields.

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