Iraqi court sentences 24 to death in Tikrit massacre of military recruits

BAGHDAD, July 8 (UPI) -- An Iraqi court sentenced 24 militants to death by hanging Wednesday for their role in the 2014 massacre of Iraqi military recruits at an air base formerly used by U.S. troops.

Hundreds of mostly Shi'ite Muslim recruits were shot to death in the northern Iraqi city of Tikrit in June 2014 after the Islamic State conquered Tikrit and seized the local Camp Speicher air base. Multimedia released by IS showed soldiers and recruits at Camp Speicher being assailed by gunmen.

The 24 men had joined more than 600 other militants who are believed to have taken part in the attack. Many are still at large. At the central court in Baghdad, the men pleaded not guilty, denying their involvement.

Human Rights Watch considers the killing at Camp Speicher to be the largest reported incident where IS captured and subsequently executed soldiers.

In April, mass graves of Iraqi soldiers were found in Tikrit after the IS was driven out of the city. Forensic teams and experts dug up 12 grave sites. Some of the soldiers' hands were bound.

Information confirming the men's identities, whether they were affiliated with IS and where they were arrested was not released.

Four others were acquitted based on lack of evidence.