The Islamic State jihadists are reportedly moving in smaller batches during night time to avoid detection by the US and Arab forces conducting airstrikes in Iraq and Syria.
According to FOX News and as reported by the Wall Street Journal, residents of the area say that the IS has also relocated weapons and hostages and moved out of bases, buildings, and camps they had occupied prior to the strikes.
The move has led to criticism that the airstrikes are hardly having any effect on IS.
Activist Mohammad Hassan told the Journal that the strikes were useless so far, as most of the training camps and the bases were empty when the coalition hit them.
Several Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and Jordan, have joined the international coalition to curb and destroy the IS.
Their aircrafts have carried out strikes in Syria, but only those from the United States, United Kingdom and France have hit targets in Iraq.
