The Islamic State group has reportedly banned the use of burqas by women near security centres in its Iraqi stronghold of Mosul after two of its fighters were killed and another attacked by veiled assailants in separate incidents last week, the International Business Times reported on Tuesday. While the two killed were assaulted near a checkpoint in Al-Shirqat, another fighter was attacked in Mosul, the news website said, quoting a report from the Iraqi News network.

The incidents “surprised the organisation and forced them to issue an alert of similar attacks” as well as banning the use of burqa near security posts in Mosul. However, women will still have to completely cover themselves while they are out in other areas, according to another report published by the Daily Express.

The Islamic State has come under international condemnation for its treatment of women and has committed several atrocities against them including burning and executing hundreds for refusing to have sex with their fighters as well as enslaving thousands others. The group has also beaten and killed women for exposing their face and hair in public. The group has suffered major territorial losses in recent months, with Turkey yesterday declaring its border areas to be entirely free of Islamic State group fighters.