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Iraqi soldiers celebrate with a flag that they seized from the Islamic State group (IS) as they hold a position near the frontline on April 9, 2016 in the town of Kharbardan, located 10 kilometres (6 miles) south of Qayyarah, during military operations to recapture the northern Nineveh province from IS jihadists.
Iraqi army troops and allied paramilitary fighters on March 24 launched a major offensive aimed at retaking the northern Nineveh province, the capital of which, Mosul, is the main hub of IS in Iraq. Qayyarah is about 60 kilometres (35 miles) south of Mosul.
/ AFP / SAFIN HAMED (Photo credit should read SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images)