ISIS releases 200 Yazidi prisoners. Yahoo/Sky News

An elderly woman released by ISIS is helped by Kurdish fighters. Yahoo/Sky News. 

ISIS has released hundreds of Yazidi civilians, including children and the elderly. Yahoo/Sky News. Many of the civilians were in extremely poor health and showed signs of abuse and neglect. ISIS fighters dropped off the prisoners near Kurdish Peshmerga forces. It is unclear why ISIS released the prisoners, but it is assumed that they were a burden on them. Hundreds of Yazidi were taken prisoner in last years offensive when ISIS militants took the town of Sinjar. Many of the women were taken as forced brides or slaves. ISIS considers the Yazidi to be heretics and devil worshipers. 

My Comment:

Kind of an odd thing for ISIS to do. Don't get me wrong, I am glad these people are free. But I thought ISIS hated the Yazidi? Why didn't they just kill everyone that was of no use to them? I can understand not wanting to kill elders and children but ISIS has shown no hesitation in the past to do just that. So what has changed? 

It is possible that U.S. led airstrikes are having a greater effect then we have realized, at least in Iraq. They might be running out of basic supplies like food and water. They may even be low on ammunition. When bullets are precious, it makes sense to not waste them. Still, they have other ways to execute people without using bullets. Perhaps the conditions are so bad that they couldn't even take the time to kill these people?

The one thing I am ruling out is a genuine act of mercy. ISIS doesn't know the meaning of the word, and unless there is a local commander that went out on his own and did this, I am willing to put money on this being a pragmatic decision. No matter what though, it is good that these children and  elders were released. I am sure that they have some amazing and terrible stories to tell. All of them are incredibly lucky to be alive.