MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) — Islamic State militants have killed hundreds of people, including 50 deserters and 180 former Iraqi government employees, around their stronghold of Mosul, U.N. human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said on Friday.

The 50 were executed for desertion on Monday at the Ghazlani military base in Mosul, and the 180 died on Wednesday as Islamic State was retreating from Kokjali town, she told a regular U.N. briefing in Geneva, citing “credible reports” from multiple sources, including from Islamic State-occupied areas.

The militants transported 1,600 abducted civilians from the town of Hammam al-Alil to Tal Afar on Tuesday, possibly for use as human shields against air strikes, and told some they may be taken to Syria. They also took 150 families from Hammam al-Alil to Mosul on Wednesday.

“Also on Wednesday, ISIL reportedly used loudspeakers to order the residents of Lazaghah and Arij villages, about 5 km from Hammam al-Alil city center, to leave their villages or be severely punished,” Shamdasani said.

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