An Iraqi soldier captured by ISIS militants has escaped death by pretending to be dead during a mass execution.
The Independent reported that Ali, a 23-year-old Sunni soldier, was captured June 12 along with thousands of other men as they attempted to flee the city of Tikrit along the main road from a military base.
Ali told Human Rights Watch that he was advised by soldiers and officers to wear civilian clothes to avoid being seen by ISIS militants.
After being captured, he and other prisoners were held in a shipping container in a palace compound in the city before being taken out in a group of 10.
They were lined up, ready to be shot one by one.
When he didn’t get hit by any bullets, he fell down and pretended to be dead, he told HRW.
In a video interview with the New York Times, he said: “I thought that was the end for me, there was nothing left to fear.”
“But then I remembered my family. That was a difficult feeling.
“I kept thinking about my family. Who will care for them? What will happen to them?”
He then waited for hours until he escaped under the cover of darkness, hiding in reeds for days before he came into contact with HRW, who helped him leave ISIS-held regions, The Independent reported.
HRW have claimed that ISIS has killed up to 770 men in mass executions at five locations in Tikrit after seizing the city in northern Iraq in June.
ISIS, however, claims the number is higher, reporting they have executed 1,700 prisoners who they said were Shiite members of the army.