Human Rights Watch reported Tuesday that the Iraqi government is using barrel bombs and may also be targeting a hospital in its fight to control the city of Fallujah, according to AFP.
Government forces are currently battling anti-government fighters in some of the fiercest fighting Iraq has seen since 2008.
The New York based rights watchdog also mentioned abuses being carried out by the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria.
“In terms of what ISIS has taken responsibility for… they have committed horrible crimes,” said an HRW representative.
“But to equate them with the crimes of a government that has rescinded responsibility for protecting its civilian population and… rescinded responsibility for respecting its own laws and international law, there is no way the two can be equated,” the spokesperson added.
The Iraqi government has denied accounts that they are using barrel bombs, AFP reports.
The ongoing unrest in and around Fallujah has displaced thousands.
