The militants from the Islamic State terrorist organization took hostage 550 families around Mosul and use them as human shields, reported Reuters.

A spokesman for the UN human rights agency explained that jihadists took the families near the strategic positions of ISIS from Mosul, a city targeted by an attack launched by the international coalition and Iraqi forces.

The official also said that the UN verifies the information and reports that Islamic State killed 40 civilians in a village near Mosul.

The United States have warned since the beginning of the attack that ISIS will use civilians as human shields.

United States lead the international coalition which supports the Iraqi forces in the offensive launched on a Sunday night in order to retake Mosul, controlled by the Islamic State since June 2014.

Source: News.ro