Islamic State hits back, aided by power vacuum in Iraq and Syria

Vehicles of the Iraqi security forces gather near the Iraqi-Syrian border, January 27, 2022. Picture taken January 27, 2022. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily

JALAWLA, Iraq (Reuters) - Yousif Ibrahim no longer travels by night along the roads around his hometown of Jalawla in northeastern Iraq. He fears getting caught up in attacks by Islamic State.

"The police and army don't come into our area much anymore. If they do, they get shot at by militants," said the 25-year-old, who sells fish for a living in a nearby market.