MOSUL, Iraq — Civilians who had remained under siege in Islamic State-held areas of the city for months have flooded the streets of Mosul's Zinjili neighborhood in recent days, many injured and separated from family members as they ran to evade snipers’ bullets.

Capt. Haider Kareem Sabri, deputy commander of first regiment of the federal police’s sixth division, told Al-Monitor that the first "corridor" to get civilians out of the area was abandoned June 1 due to too many IS snipers and that a backup one was now being used instead.

"We always have a plan B for the corridors," he said, noting that it was "part of the plan to liberate Mosul from the very beginning." He added, "We have intelligence officers working inside that inform the families of what route to use."

Some were seen rushing barefoot out of the area on June 1, carrying what they could. Men in galabiyas soaked with blood ran as fast as they could amid women in long, dusty black cloaks, slowed by the heavy bags they were carrying. Severe dehydration was apparent on many of their faces, along with tension, fear and anger. In the vast confusion, the sound of mortar shells being fired nearby mixed with ambulance sirens and the cries of the injured.