BAGHDAD: Islamic State, the Al Qaeda spinoff that seized wide swathes of Iraq almost unopposed last month, has released a video warning Iraqi soldiers who may still have some fight in them that they risk being rounded up en masse and executed.
Iraq’s army unravelled when the Sunni insurgents staged a lightning advance through northern towns and cities, building on territory their comrades captured earlier in the west of the country, a major OPEC oil producer.
Thousands of soldiers fled, prompting Iraq’s top cleric to call on compatriots to take up arms against the radical faction that has declared a mediaeval-style caliphate in parts of Iraq and Syria and aims to march on the capital Baghdad.
The 30-minute video clip, circulated during the holiday that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, sheds light on what tactics the Islamic State is likely to employ as it presses ahead with its campaign.
After sweeping through a town with quick-hit raids, the militants are filmed standing over dozens of terrified, handcuffed Iraqi soldiers.
One fighter mocks a soldier for wearing civilian clothes over his uniform out of fear of being identified and killed. He pleads for mercy, to no avail.
Then dozens of soldiers are led to a sandy desert pit. They are executed one by one — bullets from AK-47 assault rifles pumped into their heads.
Not satisfied that all are dead, an Islamic State fighter makes one last round, opening fire again, one by one.
Others are led to the edge of a river. Each one is shot in the head with a pistol and then shoved in, the executioner standing in a large pool of blood.
REUTERS
