Joining forces with Iraqi army in Mosul offensive

Popular mobilization units are helping to clear villages southwest of Mosul, Iraq. On Sunday, they launched mortar rounds a little more than a mile from Islamic State fighters who continued to resist their advance on the city.

Militiamen near the village of Zarqa stand by as mortars are launched at Islamic State fighters near Mosul.

Militias known as popular mobilization units fighting near Mosul are made up mostly of Shiite Muslims.

A man wearing a religious banner walks near the front line where militias are fighting alongside Iraqi army forces. The mostly Shiite militias have agreed not to go into the city of Mosul.

Militia members working alongside Iraqi troops gather at a gravesite near a village southwest of Mosul.

The popular mobilization units received the Iraqi government’s blessing to join the battle that could break Islamic State’s grip in the country.