Islamic State militants have “massacred” approximately 80 Iraqi Yazidi men, according to Yazidi and Kurdish officials.

Senior Kurdish official Hoshyar Zebari has said the men were killed in two groups, with a convoy of Islamic State vehicles arriving in the area of Kawju on Friday. US drones later attacked the convoy, destroying two vehicles.

“They arrived in vehicles and they started their killing this afternoon,” Zebari told Reuters.

“We believe it’s because of their creed: convert or be killed.”

The rapid advance of IS through northern Iraq has seen thousands of Yazidi and Kurds fleeing, while the United States has recommenced air strikes on Iraq for the first time since finishing the military operation since announcing an end to activity in the country.