BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq’s prime minister on Monday ordered an investigation into violations of human rights and other abuses purportedly committed by government troops and paramilitary forces battling the Islamic State group to retake the city of Mosul.
Haider al-Abadi said the probe will examine “cases of kidnappings, mistreatment and violations” against civilians. Al-Abadi blamed such incidents on “groups that exploit the good name” of Iraqi soldiers and Shiite and Sunni paramilitaries.
The statement also said that the abuses were recorded and then posted on social media to “spoil the joy of victory and to defame the real image of the brave security forces and their sacrifices to liberate the land and to maintain security.”
Al-Abadi’s statement came days after the U.N. demanded a government probe into a video purportedly showing brutal treatment and killing of at least three IS suspects in a newly-taken area in eastern Mosul.
The nearly three-minute video showed members of the security forces in regular army and police uniforms dragging and beating the suspects in a residential area before showering them with bullets as at least two army Humvees, a tank and a personnel carrier were stationed nearby.
Iraqi and Kurdish forces launched the massive operation in October to retake Mosul, which fell to IS in the summer of 2014. The U.S. is supporting them with airstrikes, and U.S. soldiers are serving in a support role on the ground. Paramilitary troops are also taking part in the operation, but only in areas surrounding Mosul.
The push to retake Mosul is the biggest military operation in Iraq since American troops left in 2011 and, if successful, would be the strongest blow yet to IS.
Meanwhile in Baghdad, a car bomb on a busy commercial street killed 11 people and wounded 22. Police officials said the bomb struck the eastern Baghdad neighborhood of Talbiyeh.
Medical officials confirmed the casualties. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
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