Shocking pictures 'show ISIS prisoners being tortured and
beheaded in revenge attacks by Iraqi soldiers'
WARNING GRAPHIC PHOTOS: The images have been posted on Instagram in the past few days reportedly by Iraqi Special Forces who are taking the fight to jihadi strongholds in the war-torn country
Shocking pictures and videos have appeared online that claim to show Iraqi soldiers torturing and beheading Islamic State (ISIS) prisoners in apparent revenge attacks.
The images have been posted on Instagram in the past few days reportedly by Iraqi Special Forces who are taking the fight to jihadi strongholds in the war-torn country.
One particular account called Iraqi_lion18 features several pictures showing disembodied heads and mutilated bodies.
The holder of the account had reportedly vowed "revenge" after ISIS massacred hundreds of Iraqi military cadets at Camp Speicher, near Tikrit, the hometown of the late Saddam Hussain, in June.
It is not clear when the disturbing images, uncovered by ABC News, were taken.
However, some senior military figures, politicians and human rights experts said they were "evidence of Iraqi war crimes."
Iraqi Army spokesman, General Saad Maan, said an investigation would be launched into the images.
He added: "We don't have anything to hide."
Iraqi forces entered Tikrit for the first time on Wednesday.
They forced their way into the city from the both the north and south.
Two days later they took control of the northern neighbourhood of Qadisiyya after fierce fighting.
ISIS are believed to still have control of the city centre.
As many as 20,000 militiamen could be involved in the operation to take back Tikrit, according to US Army General Martin Dempsey.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi last week called on his country's armed forces to protect civilians and their property in areas reclaimed from ISIS.
He added: "I call upon those who have been misled or committed a mistake to lay down arms and join their people and security forces in order to liberate their cities."
