The "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) is detaining thousands of families in the city of al-Qaim in western Anbar for use as human shields, al-Qaim city council said Monday (July 18th).
“ISIL is detaining some 20,000 families in al-Qaim on the Syria border to use them as human shields after it took control of the town,” al-Qaim mayor Nadhum Bardan said in a press conference.
“The people of al-Qaim have repeatedly tried to flee areas under ISIL control, but the group prevented them and even threatened to kill anyone who tries to leave,” he said, adding that dozens of citizens have already been killed by ISIL for attempting to flee.
"The army is now drawing up plans to attack and liberate the town from ISIL, as was the case with Fallujah, Heet and other cities, while taking residents’ safety into consideration," Bardan said.
