Iraqi military forces freed a group of 18 people, which included Yazidi women and children, from captivity near Mosul.
According to Sputnik's source, the group was held on a farm in the area of Tal Afar town west of Mosul.
"When Iraqi forces started advancing, the terrorist who was guarding the farm fled. This made the process easier," the source told Sputnik.
All 18 people were then transferred to the town of Sinjar in the northwestern part of Iraq. They will soon be provided with medical and psychological help.
The Iraqi operation to retake Mosul from terrorists has been going on for over a month since October 17. The battle for the city began with 4,000 Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and 30,000 Iraqi soldiers backed by the US-led anti-terror coalition advancing on the city from the east, west and south.
Mosul has been occupied by Daesh since 2014.
