Infant killed, mother wounded by Islamic State fire in Mosul

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) An infant was killed and his mother was wounded as Islamic State militants shot at families leaving the field of battles between the extremist group and government forces in southeastern Mosul.

A local source told Alsumaria News IS fighters shot at families leaving the districts of Sumer and Wahda, adding that the families had pleaded for security forces protection from the group.

Islamic State fighters have used to target civilians fleeing battles between the group and security forces which have been leading a U.S.-backed campaign since October to retake the city which the group occupied in 2014. The group has used to post movies of executions of civilians who failed to abide by its extreme religious views.

Hundred thousands of Iraqis are still stranded in the city, with militants using them as human shields, according to aid groups and news reports. Iraqi military officials have admitted that the existence of civilians had slowed down the pace of the first phase of operations which ended December 10th.

Battles in the city forced at least 160.000 Iraqis to flee homes to refugee camps. The United Nations had voiced fears that battles could displace at least one million civilians from the city.