Isis execution
It has been claimed Isis has executed 12 members of its own fighters as suspected deserters Getty

Islamic State (IS) has executed its own soldiers in its Syrian stronghold Raqqa after its leaders accused them of wanting to desert its ranks.

An IBTimes UK source in the city said IS (formerly known as Isis) had begun executing the soldiers for trying to escape and return to their home countries.

They also revealed the soldiers, who were mainly foreigners, were killed after "the discovery of lies".

It is not yet possible to verify the claims, but the killings would follow other public executions in the Raqqa, which has become the scene of fierce fighting amid a succession of US-led coalition air strikes.

Last month three Syrian men were allegedly beheaded by the terror group for cursing.