At least seven ISIS militants were reportedly killed in an explosion and 41 gunned down by the organization itself, according to an official from Kurdistan Democratic Party on Monday. The information was given to Rudaw by Saeed Mamuzini, media officer of the Mosul branch of the KDP who said the explosion occurred at an ISIS military base in Tal Afar, some 63km west of Mosul city. Mamuzini added, in Baaj west of Mosul, ISIS killed 41 of its own members because they were caught trying to escape a battlefield. Mamuzini also said that at least 150 children around the age of 12 to 15 were taken by the Islamic State organization in Mosul in order to receive military training. ISIS has also started to extend and deepen a trench around Mosul in order to fight off the anticipated operation to liberate the jihadist-held city. Mosul fell in early June after the rapid capitulation of the Iraqi military, whose members reportedly abandoned their posts as the ISIS forces advanced.
