With their hands and faces covered in soot and dirt, fresh images emerging from Iraq show children and families gathering on roadsides as Iraqi government forces continue the battle to recapture the city of Mosul.
Children play in the streets of the deserted village as huge plumes of smoke rise into the sky from oil wells set on fire by retreating Islamic State fighters. While civilians huddled together near a camp littered with rubbish, these children were photographed as they played in the streets not knowing what is yet to come.
We look at a series of pictures that are a true representation of war through the eyes of the youth.
An Iraqi refugee who fled Mosul looks to the sky at the UN-run Al-Hol refugee camp in Syria's Hasakeh province. PHOTO: AFP
An Iraqi child stands between tents at the UN-run Al-Hol refugee camp in Syria's Hasakeh province. PHOTO: AFP
A child stands between tents at the UN-run Al-Hol refugee camp in Syria's Hasakeh province. PHOTO: AFP
Children look from behind a fence at the UN-run Al-Hol refugee camp in Syria's Hasakeh province. PHOTO: AFP
A boy whose family was displaced waits along a road between Qayyarah and Mosul. PHOTO: AFP
Families who were displaced by the ongoing operation are seen gathering in an area near Qayyarah. PHOTO: AFP
Displaced Iraqis are seen on the back of a pick up truck as they arrive to refugee camp in the town of Qayyarah, south of Mosul. PHOTO: AFP
Families who were displaced are seen gathering on an area near Qayyarah. PHOTO: AFP
A looks towards the sky as displaced families gather on an area near Qayyarah. PHOTO: AFP
Iraqi forces distribute fruits to children in the village of al-Khuwayn, south of Mosul, after recapturing the village from Islamic State (IS) group militants. PHOTO: AFP
A boy carries blankets following his arrival in the desert area of Rajam al-Saliba on the Iraq-Syria border south of al-Hol in Syria's Hassakeh province. PHOTO: AFP
Refugee children pose for the camera after Iraqi government forces recaptured the village from Islamic State (IS) group militants. PHOTO: AFP
A displaced young boy holds a pigeon at refugee camp in the town of Qayyarah, south of Mosul. PHOTO: AFP
A displaced Iraqi girl looks on upon arriving to a refugee camp in the town of Qayyarah, south of Mosul. PHOTO: AFP
A looks on while an Iraqi forces member helps a displaced man push a car as they arrive at refugee camp in the town of Qayyarah, south of Mosul. PHOTO: AFP
Displaced Iraqis are seen on the back of a pick up truck as they arrive to refugee camp in the town of Qayyarah, south of Mosul. PHOTO: AFP
A girl looks on upon arriving to a refugee camp in the town of Qayyarah, south of Mosul. PHOTO: AFP
A family drive their car as they flee from a village located south of Mosul. PHOTO: AFP
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