IS 'executes Iraqi tribesmen' hours after finance chief killed

The Islamic State group has reportedly seized and murdered dozens of tribesmen in northern Iraq, hours after the death of group's finance chief in a battle with tribal militia aligned with the Iraqi government.

Reports said that the IS on Tuesday rounded up members of the Jabouri tribe in Hajal, in the north of Salaheddin province, hours after Abu al-Maghir al-Halabi was killed along with several bodyguards in Dujail, in the province's south.

A field officer from the area told al-Araby al-Jadeed on Wednesday that the IS raided homes in Hajal looking for culprits, and seized dozens of men, including former policemen and soldiers.

The extremist group accused the captured tribesmen of "apostasy" for supporting Baghdad and organising themselves into militias to fight the IS. The group kills those it claims to be apostates.

Sheikh Abdallah al-Jabouri, a prominent tribesman, told al-Araby that the group also killed his contemporary. Khalaf Mamdouh al-Jabouri, on charges of belonging to the pro-government al-Hashd al-Shaabi militia group in Mosul province.    

Iraq Body Count recorded 83 deaths in the country on Tuesday and 40 killed on Monday. The group also reported that 49 people were executed on Tuesday and 19 on Monday, in areas of northern Iraq controlled by the Islamic State group.

This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.