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GENEVA, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) warned Friday that Islamic State (IS) fighters defending the northern Iraqi city of Mosul are continuing to forcibly displace civilians amid concerns that they will be used as human shields to protect the extremist group from airstrikes.
"On Tuesday, we understand trucks full of abducted civilians, reportedly some 1,600 people, were taken from Hamam al-Alil to Tal Afar city," OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement.
"Some of these families were told that they may be transported to Syria. We are very concerned that ISIL intends to use these families to shield themselves from air strikes," she added.
OHCHR reported that on Wednesday a further 150 families were forcibly transferred to Mosul from Hamam al-Alil, a small town 30 km south of the embattled city which is one of IS' last strongholds in the region.
Residents of two villages located some 5 km away from Hamam al-Alil were also informed via loudspeakers that they would be severely punished if they did not leave their villages, OHCHR reported.
These latest developments come amid ongoing reports of mass killings carried out by IS combatants who have controlled Mosul since June 2014 when Iraqi government forces abandoned their weapons and fled, enabling IS militants to take control of parts of Iraq's northern and western regions.
"We also continue to receive reports of mass killings, including one incident on Monday when ISIL reportedly killed 50 of its own militants in the Ghazlani military base in Mosul city for alleged desertion," Shamdasani continued.
"There are also credible reports that 180 people were killed on Wednesday in Kokjali town in eastern Mosul, and possibly up to another 200 people were killed in Mosul city. We are trying to verify the details of these alleged killings," she added.
Supported by Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, Iraqi troops kicked off operations to recapture the city last month. They are backed by international aircraft as well as different kinds of Iraqi and U.S.-led coalition artillery units.
According to reports, more than 5,000 IS militants were initially holed up in Mosul to defend the city, though they are quickly losing ground amid ongoing military operations there.
