Iraqi officials deny thousands of hostages freed from IS
Iraqi officials deny thousands of hostages freed from IS
Iraqi officials have denied large numbers of mainly civilians were released when Iraqi forces reportedly discovered an underground Islamic State group prison in Hit.
2 min read
The prison was discovered when Iraqi forces launched an offensive to recapture the town [Getty]
A commander of the counter-terrorism service in Iraq has denied earlier reports thousands of prisoners were freed from an IS underground prison.
"Last night's reports on the discovery of a large underground prison in Anbar and the release of 1500 prisoners held by Islamic State militants are false," General Abdul-Ghani al-Asadi told The New Arab.
"Our forces were said to be those that found the underground prison however I can confirm this is untrue," he added, confirming the forces are continuing with battles across the city.
Reports carried by international media earlier said large numbers of prisoners were freed from an underground Islamic State group prison when Iraqi forces recaptured a town from the militants, officials revealed on Satuday.
"Our forces were said to be those that found the underground prison however I can confirm this is untrue," he added, confirming the forces are continuing with battles across the city.
Reports carried by international media earlier said large numbers of prisoners were freed from an underground Islamic State group prison when Iraqi forces recaptured a town from the militants, officials revealed on Satuday.
An estimated 1,500 mostly civilians were released from the makeshift underground jails in the western town of Hit - one of the largest population centres in the Anbar province- said earlier Malallah al-Obeidi, a local Anbar official.
"During their advance to liberate and clear the town of Hit from the (IS) organisation, security forces were able to discover a large prison," police Colonel Fadhel al-Nimrawi.
"The prison was underground" and held 1,500 people, who were freed by security forces, Nimrawi said.
The discovery of the "large prison" was reportedly confirmed by Muhannad al-Dulaimi, the official responsible for the Hit area.
Islamic State militants seized large territories of Iraq in 2014, establishing a de facto capital in the Anbar province.
But Iraqi security forces, backed by US-coalition airstrikes regained significant ground from the militants since a broad offensive began last month.
More In News
