Iraq: ISIS fighters take cover in abandoned churches

By: Robert Ewan

Posted: Wednesday, September 24, 2014 3:51 am

St Ephraim's church, Mosul  A month after Barack Obama launched aerial attacks against Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq, many of the militants have stopped gathering in the open and are hiding in abandoned churches of Mosul. Some of these churches are located in a densely populated area. Residences are concerned that their neighbourhood will be targeted. Local resident Leila Abdullah said: “Many ISIS fighters have taken shelter in the Um al Mauna church in Mosul’s Dawasa district. She added: “They abandoned the Headquarters of the Iraqi police after it was bombed.” Marwan Mahmoud said: “about one hundred fighters are hiding in the abandoned monastery of St Georges and about fifty fighters have occupied St Ephraim church and an unknown numbers are hiding in St Paul church.”  Some local residents have abandoned their homes near the churches for fear of further bombings. Last week an American strike targeted an abandoned Christian home in the Sumer neighbourhood of Mosul, which resulted in the death of more than 15 Isis fighters.