IS beheads Syrian captives in human 'Eid sacrifice'

The Islamic State group has released a shocking video showing the execution of at least 15 people - including children - in the Syrian province of Deir az-Zour.

"The Making of Illusion", as named by the group, features masked fighters decapitating the victims, who wore orange execution clothes, inside a slaughterhouse.

The beheaded men - believed to be Syrians - were described as sacrifices for Eid al-Adha, a Muslim holiday that traditionally involves the slaughtering of sheep or cows as an offering to God.

The bodies are left dangling head-down by meat hooks, which are normally used to hang slaughtered animals.

According to the video, which was removed several times from social media platforms, the men were executed on charges of "treason and espionage" for the US-led international coalition.

Social media users expressed shock at the new level of brutality shown in the video, describing it as a crime against Islam, Muslims, and humanity.

The video was not the first of its kind.

Last month, a video emerged of IS fighters killing two Egyptian soldiers and carrying out sniper attacks in the Sinai.

In 2015, Libya's Islamic State group affiliate beheaded 21 Egyptian Christians, showing the killings in a grisly video posted online that led Egypt to launch airstrikes against the group.

In February 2016, the group released a video showing the execution of captured Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kassasbeh, who was burned alive in a cage, provoking outrage and international condemnation.

There have been countless other videos of executions, intended to shock audiences and humiliate their victims.