Daesh takes Mosul hajj pilgrims’ relatives hostage

Monday, 31 August 2015 6:22 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 31 August 2015 10:41 PM ]

Iraqis wait to board a plane at the international airport in the city of Najaf, Iraq, to go on pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, August 29, 2015. (© AFP)

Daesh Takfiri militants have reportedly taken hostage the relatives of Mosul residents heading to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj to ensure that the pilgrims would not flee the militant-held northern Iraqi city of Mosul after the rituals.

Eyewitnesses, requesting not to be named, said Daesh extremists have rounded up scores of people in the city, which is located some 400 kilometers (248 miles) north of the capital, Baghdad, and put them under control to make sure that their relatives, who are currently performing Hajj in neighboring Saudi Arabia, would not escape from the terrorists’ clasps, the Arabic-language al-Forat news agency reported.

This as three senior Daesh militant commanders were killed after Iraqi fighter jets carried out precision strikes against Daesh positions in Baaj district, which lies west of Mosul.

The slain Daesh commanders were identified as Ra’ad Abdulrahman Ramazan, Salem Mozerri al-Zubeidi and Ali Aziwi al-Mokanna.

A fighter from the Popular Mobilization Units holds a weapon on the front line during a military operation against Daesh militants on the road leading to Saqlawiya in Iraq's Anbar Province on August 19, 2015. (© AFP)

Meanwhile, fighters from pro-government Popular Mobilization Units have destroyed an explosives-laden car in the al-Sijariyah district of Iraq’s conflict-ridden western province of Anbar, killing a number of Daesh militants. The Takfiris had planned to use the vehicle and target government forces.

Iraqi military aircraft also launched a separate air raid against an area in the town of al-Karmah, situated about 48 kilometers (30 miles) west of Baghdad, killing a Daesh affiliate.

Additionally, Commander of the Federal Police Forces Lieutenant General RaedShaker Jawdat said Iraqi security personnel had killed five Daesh militants, among them a sniper, and destroyed three of their vehicles in the city of Husaybah, which lies seven kilometers (4.5 miles) east of Anbar’s provincial capital city of Ramadi.

Members of the allied Iraqi forces consisting of the Iraqi army and fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units pose for a photograph as they sit on a tank on the front line during a military operation against Daesh militants on the road leading to Saqlawiya in Iraq's Anbar Province on August 19, 2015. (© AFP)

The northern and western parts of Iraq have been plagued by gruesome violence ever since ISIL Takfiri terrorists mounted an offensive in June 2014.

The militants have been committing vicious crimes against all ethnic and religious communities in Iraq, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians and others.

The Iraqi army together with fighters from the Popular Mobilization units has been engaged in operations to liberate militant-held regions.

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