IS execute five men for helping fleeing Iraqis

Photos posted on social media showed militants from IS, which has suffered a string of losses in Iraq, publicly executing the five men, according to SITE, a US-based monitor.

The militant group has consistently sought to prevent people from leaving areas it holds.

Last week a UN report said at least 3,000 villagers were captured by IS militants trying to flee. Twelve were executed and six burnt, the report said.

The militant group overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces have since regained significant ground and are conducting operations to set the stage for the battle to recapture Mosul, the last IS-held city in the country.

Iraqi government forces have marched towards Mosul in recent weeks after a string of victories against the militants in other parts of the country.

In June the Iraqi army and aligned-militias declared victory in Fallujah after pushing out the militants during an offensive that forced tens of thousands of people to flee.

But the battle for Mosul - a much larger city - is expected to see a stark increase in internally-displaced civilians.

Meanwhile, the militants have responded to the battlefield setbacks by striking civilians, and experts have warned there may be more such attacks as the extremists continue to lose ground.

Agencies contributed to this report.