IRAQ-CONFLICT-SYRIA

Iraqi Shiite fighters from the Popular Mobilisation units sit on a tank as they hold a position near Lake Thar Thar in the desert West of the city of Samarra, on March 4, 2016 during a military operation aimed at retaking areas from the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group. Counter-terrorism forces, soldiers, police and allied paramilitaries are taking part in an operation launched , which is backed by artillery and both Iraqi and US-led coalition aircraft, aimed at retaking areas north of Baghdad, according to the Joint Operations Command. An Iraqi army colonel said that more than 7,000 security personnel would take part in the operation, which the operations command said aims to retake areas west of the city of Samarra. / AFP / AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images)