In an attempt to run away from battle, Islamic State fighters are shaving off their beards and wearing burkas, Iraqi forces said.
Iraqi troops and militia are battling to push ISIS back from the area with support from a US-led coalition and Iran.
A series of images have surfaced showing men who have reportedly been caught trying to escape from northern Iraq wearing woman dresses, bras and make-up.
Pics courtsey : Instagram
The pictures showing authorities appearing to pull back burkas to reveal young boys and even men with moustaches are posted on Instagram.
In one such photograph, a terriffied teenager wearing pink eyeshadow is seen being held by the throat as an official takes a picture. It is not known when the photograph was originally taken.
Some of the captured ISIS escapees are seen being accompanied by senior ranking officers from the official Iraqi army. The Instagram account also carries gruesome images of dead ISIS fighters and shows pictures of a poster boy on the front line fighting insurgents.
According to Sharia law, which ISIS partially adheres to, women are prevented from fighting. Jihadists are believed to be scared of being killed by a female because they think it will deny them 72 virgins in heaven.
But men and even boys as young as 13 - have been given powerful machine guns and are likely to join the cause.
The photographs were revealed just five days after it emerged three men from the region were accused of homosexuality and publicly beheaded by a sword-wielding ISIS executioner.
Last week, Iraqi forces launched a huge operation aimed to retake the city of Tikrit that, if successful, would serve as a stepping stone towards Mosul.
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