Islamic State seizes 550 families as human shields in Mosul -UN

GENEVA: Islamic State militants have taken 550 families from villages around Mosul and are holding them close to Islamic State (ISIL) locations in the Iraqi city, probably as human shields, the UN human rights office said on Friday.

"We are gravely worried by reports that ISIL is using civilians in and around Mosul as human shields as the Iraqi forces advance, keeping civilians close to their offices or places where fighters are located, which may result in civilian casualties," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein said in a statement.