U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry condemned the Islamic State militants in a statement Tuesday after the group bragged about their mistreatment of Yazidi (Yezidi) women and girls.

"ISIL now proudly takes credit for the abduction, enslavement, rape, forced marriage, and sale of several thousand Yezidi and other minority women and girls -- some as young as 12 years old. Just as despicably, ISIL rationalizes its abhorrent treatment of these women and girls by claiming it is somehow sanctioned by religion. Wrong. Dead wrong," Kerry said.

The group, known as ISIL, ISIS or Takfiri group, said they abducted Yazidi women and children had been divided among its fighters, according to Al Manar.

Kerry slammed the group for its boasting and said that their actions prove they do not represent Islam, and that the U.S. remains steadfast in eradicating the militants from Syria and Iraq.

"In fact, these actions are a reminder that ISIL is an enemy of Islam," Kerry said. "These acts transgress all definitions of human dignity and those individuals responsible must be identified and held fully accountable. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Cathy Russell said it best: 'Such viciousness against innocents exposes ISIL's blatant rejection of the most basic progress we have made as a community of nations and the universal values that bind civilization.' The United States will not stand by as ISIL uses fear, violence and oppression to achieve its goals."

The Yazidi are a minority population, who believe in an ancient religion and traditionally kept to themselves in northern Iraq. Tens of thousands have fled since the militants invaded the region four months ago, Al Manar reported.

The United Nations confirmed the enslavement of 7,000 women and execution of 5,000 Yazidi men, The Daily Mail reported.

By piecing together reports of mass killings and the information they are able to receive about detention centers where the women are being held, the U.N. said the numbers of women in captivity will likely increase.