Official: 30 Kurdish Yazidis escape clutches of ISIS
DUHOK, Kurdistan Region - Dozens of Kurdish Yazidis have escaped from ISIS militants in the extremist-held Tal Afar in northern Mosul province, a Peshmerga official said.
At least 30 Kurdish Yazidis, including seven women and 20 children, were helped to flee by an Arab family to escape from Tal Afar district on Monday night, Ramazan Nasri, deputy commander of Peshmerga forces, told Rudaw on Tuesday.
The refugees are in good health and have been sheltered by Peshmerga forces, Nasri added.
The Yezidis are reportedly former residents of Kocho village near Mount Shingal who have been held captive by the Islamic State since last year.
When ISIS attacked Kurdish Yezidi villages in northern Iraq last July many residents took refuge in the Kurdistan region and neighboring Turkey.
Those left behind have described horrific scenes of Yezidi Kurds mercilessly lined up and murdered, then buried in the mass graves. The extent of the suffering is still unknown.
At least 30 Kurdish Yazidis, including seven women and 20 children, were helped to flee by an Arab family to escape from Tal Afar district on Monday night, Ramazan Nasri, deputy commander of Peshmerga forces, told Rudaw on Tuesday.
The refugees are in good health and have been sheltered by Peshmerga forces, Nasri added.
The Yezidis are reportedly former residents of Kocho village near Mount Shingal who have been held captive by the Islamic State since last year.
When ISIS attacked Kurdish Yezidi villages in northern Iraq last July many residents took refuge in the Kurdistan region and neighboring Turkey.
Those left behind have described horrific scenes of Yezidi Kurds mercilessly lined up and murdered, then buried in the mass graves. The extent of the suffering is still unknown.