Islamic State prevent Tikrit residents from returning home

World Today

These latest Iraqi forces successes near Tikrit are causing many residents of nearby towns to return. But Islamic State has kept many others from following their lead. CCTV’s Wisma Al Bayati reported this story from Tikrit, Iraq.

Highlights:

  • The battle to liberate the center of Tikrit is still in progress as thousands of Iraqi families and civilians have escaped.
  • Many said that ISIL refused to allow them to leave under the pretext of protecting them from the Iraqi army.
  • Other residents said the militant group looted goods to fund their armory and campaigns.
  • Since ISIL militants captured the province of Mosul last year, hundreds of thousands Iraqi families have been displaced or killed.
  • According to UN reports more than 1.5 million people have been displaced as a consequence for the terrorist activities in Iraq.