Mass graves of Iraqi soldiers found in Tikrit

TIKRIT, Iraq, April 8 (UPI) -- A dozen mass graves containing up to 1,700 Iraqi soldiers killed by the Islamic State were found in the newly liberated city of Tikrit.

Forensic teams began excavating 12 grave sites following the city's liberation from the IS. Experts say some of the soldiers had their hands bound.

The soldiers were captured in June by the IS as they were fleeing Camp Speicher located outside of Tikrit, the hometown of Saddam Hussein. The victims are thought to be mostly Shia soldiers. The graves confirm the findings by Human Rights Watch, who analyzed satellite images and photographs released by the IS showing mass graves shortly after the extremists moved through northern Iraq. It was considered one of the worst massacres since the IS began moving across the country.