ISLAMIC STATE TAKES HOSTAGES DEEPER TOWARDS MOSUL AS IRAQI FORCES ADVANCE
The Iraqi policeman wept beside his convoy, stopped in a village near the front line. For two years he had prayed he would again see the family he had left behind when his village near Mosul was overrun by Islamic State while he was off on deployment. Now, as a member of the national police force, he was personally participating in the assault to repel the fighters from the area. Last week he learned from other advancing Iraqi forces who reached his home village that they had arrived too late to protect his family. Fleeing militants had taken them hostage and were bringing them deeper towards Mosul to use as human shields.