File Photo.
NINEVEH, Iraq: Sixteen civilian bodies were found in the Old City of Mosul amid a major offensive to oust Islamic State militants from the northern Iraqi city, according to a local police officer.
"The bodies had gunshot wounds," Rapid Response Forces officer, lieutenant Karim al-Nuaimi, told Anadolu Agency on Sunday.
He said the civilians were likely killed after attempting to flee IS-held areas in western Mosul.
In a related development, IS militants shot dead two civilians while trying to flee Bab Laksh area in western Mosul to government-held areas in the city, military officer Khalid Ali said.
In February, Iraqi ground forces -- backed by U.S.-led coalition air power -- began fresh operations aimed at ousting IS militants from western Mosul, the terrorist group’s last bastion in northern Iraq.
The offensive is part of a wider campaign launched last October to retake the entire city, which IS overran in mid-2014.
