Islamic State fighters are shaving off their beards and dressing as women in a bid to escape from battle , Iraqi forces have claimed . A series of pictures have emerged showing men who have reportedly been caught trying to escape from northern Iraq wearing dresses , bras and make-up . The photographs , posted on Instagram , show authorities appearing to pull back burkas to reveal young boys and even men with moustaches . Islamic State fighters are using bras and dresses to disguise themselves as women in a bid to escape from battle , Iraqi forces have claimed . The photographs , posted on Instagram , show authorities appearing to pull back burkas to reveal young boys and even men with moustaches . It is not known when the images were originally taken . In one a scared teenager wearing pink eyeshadow is held by the throat as an official takes a picture . It is not known when the photograph was originally taken . The account also carries images of dead fighters , the Sunday Mirror reported . Under Sharia law , which ISIS partially adheres to , women are prevented from fighting . Jihadists are believed to be terrified of being killed by a female because they think it will stop them getting their 72 virgins in heaven . A man is pictured wearing lipstick in one of the images that has emerged showing ISIS fighters dressing as women , as they try to flee from northern Iraq . One man is pictured in a flowery red jumpsuit with a thick blue blanket pulled over his head . But men - and even boys as young as 13 - have been given powerful machine guns and are expected 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 . Iraqi troops and militia are battling to push ISIS back from the area with support from a US-led coalition and Iran . The photographs were revealed just five days after chilling new images emerged of three men being beheaded . The executioner stands with the sword poised above the man 's head as a large crowd gathers to watch . But retaking Nineveh and Mosul poses a major challenge for Baghdad 's forces , as the militants have had more than nine months to dig in . Iraqi forces launched a huge operation last week aimed at retaking the city of Tikrit that , if successful , would serve as a stepping stone towards Mosul .
civilians managed to escape northern territory in dresses and make - up , Iraqi forces said . Pictures posted on Instagram websites that also had photos of civilians . boys and girls are not allowed to marry under Sharia law .