Islamic State militants release 200 Yazidis in Iraq

Islamic State militants have released more than 200 members of the Yazidi religious community being held in northern Iraq, Kurdish security officials have said.

Most of the 216 prisoners were in poor health and bore signs of abuse, General Hiwa Abdullah told the Associated Press.
About 40 children were among those freed, while the rest were elderly.
IS attacked the Yazidis in Iraq last year, killing and abducting thousands.
Some of the captives told Reuters they had been held in the IS stronghold of Tel Afar most of the time, but in the days leading up to their release, they were moved from one town to another.
A Reuters reporter at the scene said many of the prisoners were too exhausted and disoriented to speak.
Meanwhile, Iraqi troops have said they are gaining ground in a fresh offensive against IS in the western province of Anbar.