Tri-Service

"Islamic State Releases 216 Yazidi Prisoners"

Islamic State has released more than 200 Yazidis after holding them for eight months, according to an Iraqi Kurdish security official.

No reason was given for the latest mass release of captives by the extremists.

General Hiwa Abdullah, a peshmerga commander in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, said most of the freed 216 prisoners, part of a Kurdish religious community, are in poor health and bore signs of abuse and neglect.

He added that about 40 children are among those released, while the rest were elderly. The freed Yazidis were taken away by ambulances and buses to receive treatment and care.

Tens of thousands of Yazidis fled in August when IS captured the northern Iraqi town of Sinjar, near the Syrian border. But hundreds were taken captive by the group, with some Yazidi women forced into slavery, according to international rights groups and Iraqi officials.

In January, IS released some 200 Yazidi prisoners as well. At the time, Kurdish military officials said they believed the extremists released the prisoners as they were too much of a burden.