Iraqi authorities have begun excavating a suspected Islamic State mass grave at Khasfa, near Mosul, believed to contain thousands of victims, including Iraqi security forces, Yazidis, and Shiites.

The effort, launched August 9 by Iraq’s Martyrs’ Foundation, is in its early phase—collecting visible remains and surface evidence while preparing for full exhumation, which requires international support due to site hazards like sulfur water and unexploded ordnance.

DNA samples from families will be collected to aid identification.

While some experts call Khasfa possibly the largest mass grave in modern Iraqi history, officials say its scale remains unconfirmed, the Associated Press has reported.

IS, which once controlled vast territory in Iraq and Syria, left behind numerous mass graves before its defeat in 2019.