An Islamic State retreat leaves a toxic wasteland

Sienna Moqtar and her daughter decorate the grave of Moqtar’s brother with rocks. He died last week in the final days of Islamic State in Qayyarah. The bodies of two infant nephews are buried on the right.

Ibrahim Atea Ahmed, left, and Daham Ahmed survived the Islamic State attack, but their town was left in bad shape. Oil fires continue to burn, set by militants as a cover from air attacks.

A shepherd watches his sheep, whose coats are covered in residue from the oil fires near Qayyarah, Iraq.

In addition to oil fires, toxic fumes from a sulfur plant Islamic State had attacked foul the air.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Residents of Qayyarah wait for food and water to be handed out. Very little was distributed. The water is not fit to drink in the town.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

“Whenever there is an advance by the army, Islamic State is taking revenge: destroying things, executing people or taking them as human shields,” said Abdul Rahman Ali, who was unemployed and waiting in a food distribution line with scores of others in Qayyarah, Iraq.

Taher Mohammed Khalid lost several shops in an Islamic State bombing in the Iraqi town of Qayyarah.

Iraqi soldiers now control the town of Qayyarah, where bombing destroyed many shops in town.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)