ERBIL— Some 18 civilians from Hawija who were accused by the Islamic State (IS) organization of spying for the Iraqi forces were executed by IS militants on Monday, said a tribal chieftain from the area.

Speaking to BasNews, Sheikh Masrour Naji, the chieftain for al-Jobouri tribe, said some of the victims were beheaded and some were shot in the head.

Most of the victims are from the Jobouri tribe, according to the chieftain who urged Iraqi Prime Minister and General Commander of the Armed Forces Haidar al-Abadi to order the operation to liberate Hawija.

The residents of Hawija are killed by IS militants on a daily basis, Naji stated.

Hawija, 55km south of Kirkuk, has been under IS control since June 2014.