Mass grave reveals several children's bodies and brings one hardened soldier to tears

The horrors ISIS leaves in its wake are still being revealed.

A mass grave was discovered in Mosul, Iraq, containing 24 bodies - most of which were children.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Iraqi troops stumbled upon the mass grave and were overcome with grief as they recovered the tiny bodies.

Several shocking photographs were taken to reveal the small bodies wrapped in blankets as soldiers wept nearby.

According to Daily Mail, they were likely executed for the "crime" of attempting to flee their war-torn homes.

The site was discovered as Iraqi fighters made their way further into Mosul's territory to reclaim it from ISIS.

The graves were shallow and discovered in a remote patch of land about 100-feet from a road.

Soldiers stopped to dig up the bodies to honor the dead properly before continuing to sweep the area of car bombs and booby traps left by the terrorist organization.

ISIS is losing ground quickly as forces move in and reclaim much of the land stolen by the group.

Federal Police Major General Haidar Dhirgham explained clearing Mosul is difficult but stated: "We have a plan to surround the Old City. Today we have advanced from the right and left sides and the only part left is right in the middle.

"God willing we will continue this plan today. I expect the liberation of Mosul completely in one month. I will not tell you one or two weeks, because that's not true, but within on or two months it will be completely liberated.

"There are only some neighbourhoods that remain, like the Old City. This is too narrow but our forces will be able to enter soon."

Dhirgham continued, explaining how ISIS set fires to destroy homes and families during their final attacks before retreating to Old City.

"We will liberate civilians before liberating the land," Dhirgham stated. "We will take them out of the neighbourhoods, if we have their consent. If they would like to flee to an area in the back flanks or if we could secure them within their neighbourhoods, we will secure them in their homes."

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