- Title: Life returns to town near Iraq's Mosul after recapture from Islamic State
- Date: 10th November 2016
- Summary: HAMMAM AL-ALIL, IRAQ (NOVEMBER 9, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERED AROUND HAMMAM AL-ALIL SULPHUR SPRINGS REFLECTION OF PEOPLE SITTING NEAR SPRING / PEOPLE SITTING NEAR SPRING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE HELPING EACH OTHER WASH NEAR SPRINGS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE JUMPING INTO SPRINGS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESIDENT OF HAMMAM AL-ALIL, TAHA DAOUD, SAYING: "People used to come to these springs from all around the world, from the Gulf, Europe, Asia, they would all come here. This area was open to the world, everyone was happy, people would stay here for three or four days. That was until the enemy of humanity came to us, the indescribable enemy that has no values or morals, the enemy, Daesh (a commonly used Arabic acronym for Islamic State), who came to us from the land of ignorance. They prohibited all men from undressing and swimming in the spring." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE JUMPING INTO SPRINGS MAN WASHING UP NEAR A SPRING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MEMBER OF IRAQI FEDERAL POLICE, TAHER FARHAN, SAYING: "Victory is close, hopefully only a little time remains until the federal police completely liberate Mosul. We are now in Hammam al-Alil, thank god we were able to clear the area. As you can see the families are back here, they all came to swim and find treatment in the springs." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT SPRINGS MAN HELPING HIS SON WASH MAN DIVING JUMPING A SPRING CHILDREN PLAYING IN MUD MEN LATHERING THEMSELVES WITH MUD GENERAL VIEW OF SPRINGS / PEOPLE IN AREA
- Embargoed: 25th November 2016 07:38
- Keywords: Hammam al-Alil Mosul Iraq Springs Islamic State recapture liberated
- Location: HAMMAM AL-ALIL, IRAQ
- City: HAMMAM AL-ALIL, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA00157V28UF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: On the banks of the Tigris river, men sat and watched, smiling with relief as Iraqi policemen, soldiers and local youths bathed in muddy spring water in a town that was recaptured from Islamic State just a few days ago.
Hammam al-Alil was seized from the jihadists by Iraqi Federal Police units last week as Iraqi government forces, Kurdish Peshmerga and Shi'ite militias backed by U.S.-led air strikes pushed their offensive to recapture Mosul from Islamic State.
Residents of the area said they were unable to reap the benefits of the springs for more than two years under the rule of Islamic State, who prohibited anyone from going there.
"People used to come to these springs from all around the world, from the Gulf, Europe, Asia, they would all come here. This area was open to the world, everyone was happy, people would stay here for three or four days. That was until the enemy of humanity came to us, the indescribable enemy that has no values or morals, the enemy, Daesh (a commonly used Arabic acronym for Islamic State), who came to us from the land of ignorance. They prohibited all men from undressing and swimming in the spring," said Taha Daoud, a resident of the town.
A member of the federal police said he was happy to see life return to the springs, declaring that "victory is close" in the battle to reclaim nearby Mosul. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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