Amnesty: Iraqi Forces Have Conducted Unlawful Attacks in Mosul




Amnesty International released a statement on Tuesday, saying the so-called Islamic State (IS) has frequently violated international humanitarian laws throughout the nearly three years of controlling the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, but they have not been the only ones conducting unlawful acts.

According to the human rights organization, the Iraqi forces and the US-led coalition had also carried out a series of unlawful attacks in western Mosul, relying heavily on Improvised Rocket Assisted Munitions (IRAMs), weapons with crude targeting capabilities, used in largely populated areas of the city.

However, during the operation for liberating the city of Mosul the IS militants have killed hundreds, if not thousands of men, women and children, who tried to escape the areas controlled by the extremist group, Amnesty added.

The organizers further acknowledged the difficulty of protecting civilians, during a military campaign of such kind, but nevertheless blamed the Iraqi military and security forces, and the US-led coalition of not taking adequate precautions to protect the civilians from airstrikes and other military actions.

In addition, the statement added that there have not been any comprehensive figures of civilian casualties published by the Iraqi authorities so far, and that the real death toll in western Mosul may never be known to the public.

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