Islamic State fighters are using bras
and dresses to disguise themselves as women in a bid to escape from
battle, Iraqi forces have claimed
Islamic
State fighters are shaving off their beards and dressing as women in a
bid to escape from battle, Iraqi forces have claimed.
A
series of pictures have emerged showing men who have reportedly been
caught trying to escape from northern Iraq wearing dresses, bras and
make-up.
The
photographs, posted on Instagram, show authorities appearing to pull
back burkas to reveal young boys and even men with moustaches.
The photographs, posted on Instagram,
show authorities appearing to pull back burkas to reveal young boys and
even men with moustaches. It is not known when the images were
originally taken
In
one a scared teenager wearing pink eyeshadow is held by the throat as
an official takes a picture. It is not known when the photograph was
originally taken.
The account also carries images of dead fighters, the Sunday Mirror reported.
Under Sharia law, which ISIS partially adheres to, women are prevented from fighting.
Jihadists
are believed to be terrified of being killed by a female because they
think it will stop them getting their 72 virgins in heaven.
+4
One man is pictured in a flowery red jumpsuit with a thick blue blanket pulled over his head
But men - and even boys as young as 13 - have been given powerful machine guns and are expected to join the cause.
The
photographs were revealed just five days after it emerged three men
from the region were accused of homosexuality and publicly beheaded by
a sword-wielding ISIS executioner.
Iraqi troops and militia are battling to push ISIS back from the area with support from a US-led coalition and Iran.
The photographs were revealed just
five days after chilling new images emerged of three men being beheaded.
The executioner stands with the sword poised above the man's head as a
large crowd gathers to watch
But
retaking Nineveh and Mosul poses a major challenge for Baghdad's
forces, as the militants have had more than nine months to dig in.
Iraqi
forces launched a huge operation last week aimed at retaking the city
of Tikrit that, if successful, would serve as a stepping stone towards
Mosul.
