Seven mass graves containing hundreds of unidentified bodies have been unearthed near the former "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) stronghold of Albu Kamal in eastern Syria, AFP reported Wednesday (December 12th).

Most of the more than 100 bodies recovered so far at the site appear to "have been subjected to torture and ill-treatment before execution", state media reported Tuesday, accusing ISIS of killing the victims.

Work was under way to retrieve the rest of the bodies from the graves in Deir Ezzor, state media said.

A Syrian Red Crescent official said the main focus at present was identifying the remains already recovered, which included those of several women.

"Exhumations will resume afterwards," the official said, asking not to be identified.

"The bodies show signs of torture and some were blindfolded and handcuffed."

In recent months, both Syria and Iraq have discovered a number of mass graves in areas previously occupied by ISIS.

Albu Kamal, which lies in the Euphrates Valley near the border with Iraq, was the last major town that ISIS controlled fully before losing it in November 2017.