Yet Another Mass grave Discovered – 139 More Victims

The remains of 139 people, believed to have been killed by ISIS, have been recovered from a mass grave at the Alo Antar Pit near Tal Afar, about 70 kilometers west of Mosul. Officials confirmed the pit, used by ISIS during its control, contained these remains.

The grave is one of many left by ISIS, known for its brutal acts of beheadings, torture, and enslavement. The exact number of victims remains unclear. Witnesses have identified them as Ezidis, Shia Turkmen, and security forces from Mosul. ISIS is infamous for its attacks on these groups, especially Ezidis in Sinjar.

Ahmad Esadi of the Iraqi Martyrs Foundation noted that the victims were thrown into pits 12 to 42 meters deep without proper burials. “Some were found shot, while others had their throats slit,” Esadi said. Clothing on the bodies suggests they were Ezidi and Turkmen.

The bodies have been sent for DNA testing and identification. The mass grave was discovered after ISIS lost control of the area in 2017, but exhumation efforts only began in May.

ISIS, or the Islamic State, once controlled large areas of Syria and Iraq, leaving numerous mass graves. Over 70 such graves have been found, containing tens of thousands of bodies. Efforts to identify and exhume these bodies are ongoing, involving forensic work and coordination with various organizations. The discovery has spurred calls for justice, with international courts and Iraqi tribunals pursuing cases against ISIS members for war crimes and genocide. Humanitarian organizations continue to support survivors and victims’ families.