UN Launch Investigation into Reports on Civilian Deaths in Mosul

On Jun 9, 2017

YemenExtra

Y.A

(RT) The UN is investigating reports which say up to 80 civilians have been killed by an airstrike in a terrorist-held part of western Mosul. It also accused “Daesh” of killing at least 231 residents attempting to flee the Iraqi city.

The airstrike happened in the Zanjilly neighborhood of the war-torn city on May 31, and is one of several reported incidents in which airstrikes caused civilian deaths in Mosul, the UN Human Rights Office said in a statement on Thursday.

The organization said its Iraqi office was seeking additional information on the incidents and called on the Iraqi Security Forces and the US-led coalition to take all measures to minimize civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict.

Reuters cited a young man in Mosul, who said he was wounded in an airstrike which hit a group of between 200 and 250 civilians collecting water. The witness said the strike apparently targeted a fighter from the terrorist group “Daesh”, backed by Saudi Arabia, who was hiding among them.

The UN also accused “Daesh”, backed by Saudi Arabia,of escalating the violence against the civilian population trying to flee the parts of Mosul remaining under “Daesh” control. It is estimated that since May 26, more than 231 civilians have been killed by “Daesh” fighters, backed by Saudi Arabia, with 204 reported deaths occurring over just three days last week.

The statement cited several instances of such mass killings by “Daesh”, backed by Saudi Arabia, which happened recently in the al-Shifa neighborhood, adding that an undetermined number of civilians have gone missing.

“Shooting children as they try to run to safety with their families – there are no words of condemnation strong enough for such despicable acts,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein was cited by the statement as saying.