ISIS has started killing civilians who don't cooperate in Mosul

GENEVA (Reuters) - Islamic State militants in the Iraqi city of Mosul have killed civilians who refuse to allow rockets and snipers to be sited in their houses or whom they suspect of leaking information or trying to flee, a U.N. human rights spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

"On Nov. 11, ISIL reportedly shot and killed 12 civilians in Bakir neighborhood of eastern Mosul city for allegedly refusing to let it install rockets on the rooftops of their houses," Ravina Shamdasani told a regular U.N. briefing.

Information received by the U.N. also showed that militants publicly shot to death 27 civilians in Muhandiseen Park in northern Mosul on Nov. 25, and on Nov. 22 an Islamic State sniper killed a seven-year-old running towards the Iraqi Security Forces in Adan neighborhood in eastern Mosul.

ISIS is currently locked in battle against an array of forces for control of Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq and the largest city under the militant group's control. The Iraqi military, with support from the US-led coalition, Kurdish forces, and Iranian-backed Shiite militia units, have been slowly closing in on Mosul since the start of an offensive on October 16.

Since the start of the operation, Iraqi forces have captured nearly half of eastern Mosul. So far, the operation has claimed to have killed almost 1,000 ISIS militants and to have broken the group's spirit in the city.

The operation to liberate the rest of the city is continuing slowly, as Iraqi forces have to deal with ISIS car bombs, sniper fire, and use of heavy weaponry. Additionally, Iraqi forces have opted to use slower tactics focused on cordoning off and clearing one neighborhood at a time in order to minimize civilian casualties.

(Reuters reporting by Tom Miles; editing by Stephanie Nebehay)