Mosul ISIS siege: Civilians shot dead, bodies hung from poles as 'warning'

With civilians continuing to suffer in the crossfire between the Iraqi Security Forces and the ISIS in Mosul, Iraq, many residents have fled the area, while others have simply chosen to heed the Iraqi Security Forces instructions to stay in their homes if they feel safe enough inside.

On Tuesday, ISIS shot and killed 40 civilians in Mosul after accusing them of "treason and collaboration" with Iraqi security forces, according to a report by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR.

"The victims were dressed in orange clothes marked in red with the words: 'traitors and agents of the ISF.' Their bodies were then hung on electrical poles in several areas in Mosul city," the report said.

More than 47,730 people have been displaced because of the ongoing military operations to retake Mosul from ISIS, and roughly12, 800 people have fled since Tuesday according to the International Organization for Migration.

Witnesses told CNN among the dozens executed this week, more than 30 people were shot in the head for having cell phones and their bodies were left at various intersections across Mosul as a warning.

The bodies are not being removed as residents fear reprisals from ISIS militants, witnesses said.

The UN human rights office released a report Friday, confirming that at least 60 civilians have been killed in Mosul this week, and reported new details of alleged atrocities by ISIS fighters.

On Wednesday evening, ISIS reportedly killed 20 civilians at the Ghabat military base in northern Mosul on charges of leaking information, the UN body said.

Their bodies were also hung at various intersections in Mosul, with notes stating: 'decision of execution' and 'used cell phones to leak information to the ISF.