MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to the broadcaster, citing photographer Ali Arkady, the photos taken in December last year depict Ahmed Abdullah Hassan and Leish Abdullah, two brothers who escaped the Daesh-controlled neighborhood of the Iraqi city of Mosul and were questioned, allegedly, at the Emergency Response Division (ERD) intelligence headquarters.
The photographer reportedly said that the brothers were later killed.
"At no time were US forces aware of or informed of these allegations until you brought them to our attention," the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve said in a statement to RT.
Pentagon also reportedly told the broadcaster that the United States was not training or providing the unit with the equipment at the moment, but "Leahy vetting does not prevent the US from working with the ERD."
According to the ABC broadcaster that also published the photos, ERD Capt. Omar Nazar told the outlet the tactics employed by the unit were justified because their prisoners had links to terrorists.
Since the fall of last year, the Iraqi Armed Forces backed by the US-led International Coalition have been leading an operation to liberate Mosul, which Daesh made its stronghold in Iraq. Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly drawn the attention of the international community to the plight of civilians in the city and its vicinity.
