Shia militiamen kill 5 ‘Daesh members’ south of Mosul

By Arif Yusuf and Said Ibicioglu

NINEVEH, Iraq (AA) – Shia Hashd al-Shaabi militiamen killed five alleged Daesh militants in the Al-Qayyarah district south of Mosul on Tuesday, according to a local military source.

Shia militiamen -- wearing police uniforms -- killed five people on suspicion of belonging to the Daesh terrorist group in Al-Qayyarah’s village of Naeyni, the source, who spoke anonymously due to fears for his safety, said.

The militiamen were later detained by local tribal fighters, the same source added, going on to note that at least three of the slain "Daesh members" had served as Iraqi police officers before 2014.

Established two years ago, the Hashd al-Shaabi is an umbrella group of pro-government Shia militias drawn up specifically to fight Daesh.