Baghdad, June 6 (IANS): Iraqi security forces have found a mass grave containing over 400 bodies near the Islamic State (IS)-controlled city of Fallujah, a security official said.
The official told EFE news on Monday the bodies were of civilians, soldiers and policemen killed by the extremists, who have maintained control of the area since January 2014.
The mass grave in El Saqlauiya area, 15 km north of Fallujah, was discovered on Sunday during search operations.
The bodies were dumped in the neighbourhood of Al Shuhada, located in the centre of the district.
Fallujah, located in the province of Al Anbar, is considered the main stronghold of the IS in Iraq, after the northern city of Mosul.
On May 23, the Iraqi government announced the beginning of a campaign to liberate the city from the IS terrorists.