Rights group: State-backed Iraqi militia killed IS captives

IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — A militia backed by the Iraqi government killed suspected Islamic State fighters captured during the operation to retake Mosul, Human Rights Watch said Sunday.

Iraqi government spokesman Saad al-Hadithi said authorities were unaware of the incident, but were committed to arresting and trying anyone suspected of human rights violations.

"[...] retaliations could happen in some areas by the locals (in the PMF) who had family members and relatives killed by Daesh before the entering of government security forces," al-Hadithi said, using the Arabic acronym of IS.