162 Hostages Releases by ISIL in Northern Iraq

KABUL: (Middle East Press) The ISIL Takfiri militants have released more than 160 civilians they had kidnapped in Iraq’s northern province of Kirkuk earlier this week, local sources say.

The extremist insurgents had captured 170 men in the villages of al-Shajara and Gharib in Iraq’s Kirkuk province on January 2 after two ISIL flags were burned in the area.

According to Iraqi officials, the terrorists brought the hostages to their nearby stronghold in the town of Hawijah and questioned them to find the flag-burners.

Local residents confirm that 162 of the abductees have now returned to their homes, while eight others are still in ISIL custody.

The Takfiri group conducted a similar mass kidnapping in September. Back then, they detained 70 people in Kirkuk province for disrespecting the ISIL terrorists and setting their flags on fire.

The move is seen as an attempt by the terror group to quell resistance in the areas under its control.