Iraqi authorities have commenced the excavation of a large mass grave near Mosul, believed to contain thousands of victims killed by the Islamic State (IS) group during its occupation a decade ago. The site, known as the Khasfa mass grave, is considered one of the largest discovered in Iraq, with estimates ranging from 3,000 to potentially as many as 15,000 bodies. Victims include Yazidis, soldiers, and other civilians targeted during IS's brutal campaign. The exhumation is part of broader efforts to uncover dozens of mass graves left by IS across Iraq and Syria, with human rights organizations estimating that around 400,000 people may be buried in such sites throughout Iraq. Iraqi officials have indicated that the excavation will require international support to proceed comprehensively.