At former jihadist training camp, Iraqi police face drones, crack snipers

Iraqi federal police officers inspect weapons that were used by Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, February 4, 2017. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed

MOSUL (Reuters) - As a walkie-talkie carried word of another casualty from an Islamic State mortar attack, an Iraqi policeman peered through leaves at enemy positions just across the Tigris River. He kept his head low to avoid snipers but also had an eye on the sky.

Minutes later, the militants sent a drone overhead. It carried out surveillance and dropped an explosive. Then mortar bombs landed nearby, sending the policemen running for safer ground.