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Hundreds of bodies found in mass graves near Syria ex-IS bastion
DAMASCUS, Dec 12, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Seven mass graves containing hundreds
of unidentified bodies have been unearthed near the former Islamic State
group stronghold of Albu Kamal in eastern Syria, official news agency SANA
said.
Most of the more than 100 bodies recovered so far at the site appear to
“have been subjected to torture and ill-treatment before execution,” it said,
accusing IS of killing the victims.
Work was under way to retrieve the rest of the bodies from the graves in
the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, SANA said in its report published late
Tuesday.
It released a video showing forensic experts in protective clothing
recovering remains, and corpses laid out on the ground in a row under white
sheets.
A Syrian Red Crescent official said the main focus at present was
identifying the remains already recovered which included those of several
women.
“Exhumations will resume afterwards,” the official said, asking not to be
identified.
“The bodies show signs of torture and some were blindfolded and
handcuffed.”
IS has been held responsible for multiple atrocities during its reign of
terror, including mass executions and decapitations.
In recent months, both Syria and Iraq have discovered a number of mass
graves in areas previously occupied by the jihadists.
IS proclaimed a “caliphate” over swathes of the two countries in 2014, but
has since lost almost all the territory it once held.
Albu Kamal, which lies in the Euphrates Valley near the border with Iraq,
was the last major town that IS controlled fully before losing it in November
2017.
BSS/AFP/RY/1912 hrs