Iraqi soldiers making their way toward Mosul, the last major city controlled by the Islamic State in Iraq, are in the process of taking the final town on the city's southern outskirts on Saturday. Hammam al-Alil is defended by about 70 ISIS fighters, some of whom attempted to escape while others are fighting back with attempted suicide bombings.
The UN Refugee Agency said Friday it has received reports that ISIS is conscripting all boys aged 9 or older in Hammam al-Alil to bolster defenses. ISIS has executed dozens of Hammam al-Alil residents and is using others as human shields.
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