ISIS New Defense Strategy: Human Shields for Protection

The Islamic State has a new strategy in the fight for Mosul: using people as human shields.

Tens of thousands of men, women, and children are being forced from their homes and into the center of Mosul during the battle to drive out Isis from the second largest city.

"ISIL's depraved, cowardly strategy is to try to use the presence of civilian hostages to render certain points, areas or military forces immune from military action, essentially using tens of thousands of men, women and children as human shields," said the U.N. agency's spokeswoman, Ravina Shamdasani.

According to the U.N., ISIS has captured up to 8,000 families from areas around Mosul.

More than 200 people have been forced from their homes and killed for refusing to comply with the Islamic State terrorists.

Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages near Mosul from the Islamic State during the operation.
    
The U.S. military is helping by providing airstrikes and ground support, but the U.N. and rights groups fear that more than 200,000 civilians could be displaced.

It is expected to take weeks, if not months, to drive the terrorist group from its last urban stronghold in Iraq.