The most powerful photos of the battle against Isis in Syria and Iraq
Islamic State has lost much territory and many fighters as it comes under attack from the US-backed coalition in Iraq and three separate ground forces in Syria.
Iraqi troops have recaptured most of Mosul, the largest city to be taken by the group and the base from which its leader proclaimed the caliphate. In Syria, the group has lost Palmyra and its main stronghold, Raqqa, is surrounded. IBTimes UK looks at the progress of the fight against Isis in both Syria and Iraq this year.
8 January 2017: A mushroom cloud in the sky after a car bomb exploded in eastern Mosul, during an ongoing military operation against Islamic State (IS) group militantsDimitar Dilkoff/AFP19 January 2017: A member of the Iraqi security forces removes a banner bearing the logo of the Islamic State (IS) group in eastern Mosul, during the ongoing military operation against the jihadistsMahmud Saleh/AFP22 January 2017: An Iraqi boy walks down a street near Mosul's University on January 22, 2017, a week after Iraqi counter-terrorism service (CTS) retook it from the Islamic State (IS) jihadistsDimitar Dilkoff/AFP22 January 2017: An Iraqi boy with a bandaged head stands on a street in eastern Mosul during the ongoing military operation against the jihadistsDimitar Dilkoff/AFP22 February 2017: A member of the Iraqi security forces creates holes in a wall for snipers as two others take position in the village of al-Buseif, south of MosulAhmad al-Rubaye/AFP22 February 2017: A boy, who just fled a village controlled by Islamic State fighters cries as he sits with his family inside a bus before heading to the camp at Hammam Ali south of Mosul, IraqZohra Bensemra/Reuters27 February 2017: A member of the special forces holds the baby of an Iraqi who fled his home in western MosulZohra Bensemra/Reuters28 February 2017: Iraqi special forces soldier talk to each other as they prepare for attack at Islamic State fighters in Mosul, IraqGoran Tomasevic/Reuters1 March 2017: An Iraqi woman stands in the ruins of her destroyed home, set on fire by fleeing Islamic State militants in Hay Tayrahn, west MosulMartyn Aim/Getty Images2 March 2017: A boy, who was injured in a mortar attack walks toward a ambulance after being treated by medics in a field clinic as Iraqi forces battle with Islamic State militants in western MosulZohra Bensemra/Reuters4 March 2017: A man cries while he carries his daughter as he walks from Islamic State controlled part of Mosul towards Iraqi special forces soldiers during a battle in MosulGoran Tomasevic4 March 2017: An Iraqi special forces soldier checks men for explosive belts as they cross from Islamic State controlled part of Mosul to Iraqi forces controlled part of MosulGoran Tomasevic8 March 2017: Civilians flee Mosul as Iraqi forces advance inside the city during fighting against IsisAris Messinis/AFP13 March 2017: Displaced Iraqis who had fled their homes wait to move to a safe place, as Iraqi forces battle with Islamic State militants, in western Mosul, IraqSuhaib Salem/Reuters13 March 2017: An Iraqi woman and her daughter stand on a street holding white flags as Iraqi forces secure Mosul's Al-Dawasa neighbourhood, during an offensive to retake the western parts of the city from Islamic State (IS) group fightersAhmad al-Rubaye/AFP14 March 2017: Iraqi government forces fire a rocket towards Islamic State (IS) group positions in west Mosul, as they continue to advance in the embattled city combatting the jihadistsAris Messinis/AFP16 March 2017: A black jihadist flag hangs from Mosul's Al-Habda minaret at the Grand Mosque, where Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared his caliphate back in 2014, as Iraqi forces battle to drive out Islamic state militants from the western part of Mosul, IraqYoussef Boudlal/Reuters
Islamic State is losing ground to three separate campaigns in northern Syria – by the SDF, by the Russian-backed Syrian army and by Turkish-backed Syrian rebels. The SDF, which includes the powerful Kurdish YPG militia as well as Arab groups, is fighting to isolate Raqqa ahead of an anticipated assault on the city, which Isis has used as a command node to plan attacks abroad.
The Syrian army and allied forces have made rapid gains east of Aleppo recently, edging toward the provincial border with Raqqa. The head of the YPG militia said that the offensive to retake Raqqa would begin in early April, but a spokesman for the Pentagon said no decision had yet been made.
10 January 2017: A Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighter reacts as he mourns near the body of his brother, who was killed during a battle against Isis fighters in the town of Qabasin, on the outskirts of the northern Syrian town of al-BabRodi Said/Reuters17 January 2017: Children attend a class at the Aisha Mother of the Believers school, which was reopened after rebels took control of the town of al-Rai from IsisKhalil Ashawi/Reuters3 February 2017: A child, who fled with her family from an Isis-controlled part of the northern Syrian town of al-Bab, looks out from a bus upon arrival in the rebel-held outskirts of the townKhalil Ashawi/Reuters6 February 2017: A displaced Syrian child poses for a photo at a makeshift camp near the village of Tarshan, some 20 kilometres north of RaqqaDelil Souleiman/AFP20 February 2017: A member of the Turkey-backed Euphrates Shield alliance, walks past a burnt bus as they advance towards the city of Al-Bab, some 30 kilometres from the Syrian city of AleppoNazeer al-Khatib/AFP21 February 2017: A female Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighter adjusts a mortar in northern Deir al-Zor province ahead of an offensive against IsisRodi Said/Reuters21 February 2017: A female Kurdish fighter with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), made up of an alliance of Arab and Kurdish fighters, carries a weapon in the village of Sabah al-Khayr on the outskirts of Deir Ezzor as they advance to encircle the Isis bastion of RaqqaDelil Souleiman/AFP23 February 2017: Young children stand in a destroyed street in the town of al-Bab after Turkish-backed Syrian rebels captured the town from IsisNazeer al-Khatib/AFP23 February 2017: Birds fly in front of Turkish-backed fighters walking in the northwestern Syrian border town of al-Bab after they fully captured the town from IsisNazeer al-Khatib/AFP24 February 2017: A severely damaged street in the border town of al-Bab after Turkish-backed fighters captured it from IsisNazeer al-Khatib/AFP3 March 2017: The damaged Roman amphitheatre in Palmyra is seen after Syrian troops backed by Russian jets completed the recapture of the historic cityAFP7 March 2017: A displaced Syrian child shields his eyes from the sun a makeshift camp in the village of Jab al-Tur (also known as Ukuz Quy) on the outskirts of ManbijDelil Souleiman/AFP8 March 2017: A Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighter stands near what he said were Islamic State fighters captured in an area north of RaqqaRodi Said/Reuters13 March 2017: Rebel fighters inspect a tunnel they said belonged to Isis fighters, and which connects the northern Syrian city of al-Bab to Aqeel mountainKhalil Ashawi/Reuters13 March 2017: Rebel fighters demonstate a prison they said belonged to Islamic State fighters in the northern Syrian city of al-BabKhalil Ashawi/Reuters
