Islamic State abducts over 200 near Mosul, retreats with thousands: U.N.

A member of Iraqi security forces inspects a building that was used as a prison by Islamic State militants in Hammam al-Ali, south of Mosul. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

GENEVA (Reuters) - Islamic State fighters have abducted 295 former Iraqi Security Forces members near Mosul and forced 1,500 families to retreat with them from the town of Hammam al Alil toward Mosul airport, U.N. human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said on Tuesday.

"People forcibly moved or abducted, it appears, are either intended to be used as human shields or - depending on their perceived affiliations - killed," she said.

The U.N. also had information about the abduction of at least 30 sheikhs in Sinjar last week, and one report that 18 of them had been killed on friday.