“Iraqi officials begin excavating suspected IS mass grave”

Iraqi officials have initiated the excavation of a mass grave suspected to hold thousands of victims of the Islamic State (IS) group close to Mosul city, as stated by the project’s head to AFP recently. The initial stage, commencing on August 10, involves surface-level digging at the Khasfa site, according to director Ahmed al-Assadi. A reporter from AFP, who visited the location in northern Iraq, observed the team uncovering human skulls buried in the sand. Khasfa, situated near Mosul, served as the headquarters of IS’s self-proclaimed “caliphate” until their defeat in Iraq towards the end of 2017.