US Army Gen. Joseph Votel has confirmed that between 800 and 900 ISIS members have been killed by the U.S. and its allies in the Battle for Mosul. A U.S.-led coalition of approximatley 100,000 troops are bearing down on the city and the 3,000-5,000 remaining ISIS Jihadis that are still occupying the city. An additional 1,500 fighters are believed to be occupying the small villages and towns that surround the city.
Over 100,000 inhabitants have fled the city since the offensive began on October 17. ISIS has executed 232 civilians since the start of the campaign, according to United Nations Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani. The UN Human Rights Office also told CNN that ISIS fighters are shipping local residents into the city by the “tens of thousands” to act as human shields.
ISIS fighters are also being brought in to act as “suicide squads” that will battle the ever-encroaching U.S.-led coalition. Any ISIS fighters caught attempting to flee the city are being burned alive in flaming oil trenches outside the city by their fellow ISIS members. The trenches have been dug to slow the approach of the coalition and are filled with oil before being set ablaze. Local residents have reported that the fires and the toxic fumes that emanate from them are so numerous and thick that they are beginning to cast darkness over the city in the middle of the day.
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