As Iraqi and Kurdish troops close in on the ISIS stronghold of Mosul in Iraq, militants fleeing the region have been sabotaging oil-producing facilities and setting oil wells ablaze, blackening the skies with oily soot for miles. Residents trapped in the area, or attempting to return to their homes, are experiencing health problems related to the smoke, and shepherds are unable to sell the wool of their blackened sheep. As troops are able to stabilize some areas, firefighters attempt to tame the fires before they spread to already-damaged villages nearby.
Black Skies Above Mosul
-
Heavy smoke from burning oil wells set on fire by fleeing ISIS members blankets homes on November 9, 2016 in Al Qayyarah, Iraq. Many families have begun returning to their homes in recently liberated towns south of Mosul. #
Chris McGrath / Getty -
-
Thick black clouds hover over the desert as an oil field that was set on fire by retreating ISIS fighters ahead of the Mosul offensive burns on October 21, 2016 in Qayyarah, Iraq. #
Carl Court / Getty -
-
Sheep blackened by the soot of oil fires set by ISIS militants graze in Qayyara on November 28, 2016. Shepherd Abdel Menaeim says he used to shear the animals to sell their wool. Since ISIS set the oil fires, he cannot sell the blackened wool. "We are not happy with that," he says, "but what can we do?" #
Maya Alleruzzo / AP -
-
A man takes a selfie in front of a fire from oil that has been set ablaze about 60 kilometers (35 miles) south of Mosul on October 19, 2016, during an operation by Iraqi forces against ISIS to retake the main hub city. #
Yasin Akgul / AFP / Getty -
-
-
Children living near burning oil wells set ablaze by retreating ISIS jihadists display their blackened hands in the town of Qayyarah on November 20, 2016. Locals told AFP that they face a range of health issues including breathing difficulties, and shepherds said they could not sell their livestock as the sheep's fleece was blackened by smoke. #
Odd Andersen / AFP / Getty -
Iraqi army humvees drive on the desert on their way to support their comrade, as black smoke covers the sky during their battle against ISIS, in Haj Ali front line village, southern Mosul, on November 29, 2016. #
Hussein Malla / AP -
-
A young boy pauses from herding sheep as an oil field that was set on fire by retreating ISIS fighters ahead of the Mosul offensive burns behind him on October 21, 2016. #
Carl Court / Getty -
-
-
-
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.