The Islamic State is using civilians as human shields in Fallujah, Iraq, according to a new report.
William Spindler, spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, said Tuesday “there are reports of several hundred families being used as human shields by ISIL in the center of Fallujah.”
Iraqi forces, with assistance from U.S. special operators, began mounting an attack last week to retake the country’s second largest city. The coalition started moving into the south of Fallujah Monday morning under the cover of U.S. airpower.
The Islamic State used six car bombs among other firepower against the Iraqi forces, but was stopped. In addition, the militants set off two bombs in Baghdad on Monday in an attempt to distract from the impending retake of Fallujah. The bombings killed 14 and wounded 10.
The situation is dire for the 50,000 people held hostage by the extremist group. The U.N. Refugee Agency set up a hotline with information for those seeking to leave.
The UNHCR reported 3,700 civilians escaped the Islamic State stronghold as of this Tuesday morning. Reports detail civilians trekking for hours at night, hiding in irrigation pipes and dying in an attempt to escape oppression.
Most of these people seek aid from various UNHCR and government-run refugee camps.
“Inside Fallujah, there have been reports of a dramatic increase in the number of executions of men and older boys for refusing to fight on behalf of ISIL,” according to the UNHCR report.
Fighting is expected to be drawn out, as the militants have controlled the city for two years. Fallujah is the last major western city in Iraq controlled by the Islamic State.
