Crucial Battle For World's Most Dangerous Dam

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <header class="story__header" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><div class="story__standfirst" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; margin-bottom: 40px; max-width: 64%;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Allowing Iraq's strategically important Mosul Dam to burst, killing as many as 500,000 people, is a risk neither side can take.</span></div> <div class="last-updated" style="bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 40px; max-width: 40%; position: absolute; right: 0px; text-align: right;"> <div class="last-updated__text" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px;"> <span class="last-updated__time" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">17:35, UK,</span></span><span class="last-updated__day" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); box-sizing: border-box;"></span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span class="last-updated__day" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Monday 18</span> <span class="last-updated__month-year" style="box-sizing: border-box;">August 2014</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: SkyTextMedium, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.625rem;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: SkyTextMedium, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.625rem;">Affairs Editor</span></div> </div> </header><section class="story__content" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px auto 80px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 18.75rem; orphans: auto; position: relative; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; widows: auto;"><div class="story__intro" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextMedium, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div class="story__intro" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextMedium, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div class="video__placeholder-wrapper js-video" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; height: 0px; padding-bottom: 371px; position: relative; width: 660px;"> <div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--16x9" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 371px; position: relative;"> <img alt="" class="image__item video__teaser-image js-responsive" data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="144x81 362x204 762x428 942x530" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330218/default/v1/cegrab-20140818-153719-407-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330218/default/v1/cegrab-20140818-153719-407-1-942x530.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(220, 220, 220); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 371px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 660px;" /></div> </div> <button aria-labelledby="video__caption-1320787" class="video__play--icon" style="background-image: url(http://news.sky.com/images/ffa94923.play-icon.png); background-position: 0px 0px; background-size: contain; border: none; bottom: 8px; cursor: pointer; height: 46px; left: 7px; margin: 0px; position: absolute; width: 46px;"><span class="video__play-a11y" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); display: inline-block; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute !important; text-align: left; width: 1px;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Play video</span></span><span class="video__type" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: right;">Video:</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: right;"> </span><span class="video__teaser" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: right;">Fighting For Iraq's Mosu</span></span></button></div> <div class="story__intro" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextMedium, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <span style="font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.625rem;">Recapturing the Mosul Dam from Islamic State (IS) militants isn't just a military and political necessity - it's an engineering imperative.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> It's got feet of clay. More accurately, gypsum and limestone.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> It holds 12 billion cubic metres (425 billion cubic feet) of water.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> If it broke it would unleash a liquid bulldozer 10 metres (65 feet) high that would engulf Mosul downstream on the Tigris before racing south and flooding Baghdad.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Some experts have said around 500,000 people could be killed if the dam were to fail.</div> <div class="image image--inline" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative;"> <img alt="" class="image__item js-responsive" data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="91x68 300x225 480x360" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330220/default/v2/cegrab-20140818-154235-295-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330220/default/v2/cegrab-20140818-154235-295-1-480x360.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(220, 220, 220); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> <div class="image__caption" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; min-height: 40px; padding: 10px 8px;"> Smoke rises from an area close to Iraq's Mosul Dam</div> </div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Because it's been built on gypsum and limestone, which are water soluble, the dam's base gets regular injections of "grout" - a messy mix of concrete and earth.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Some 200 tonnes of the emergency engineering porridge has to be poured into the base every year but sinkholes are appearing.</div> <div class="module module--inline video" data-format-high="http://video.news.sky.com/video/h264/vod/700/2014/08/180814IraqMosulDamWeb1408372973984700.mp4" data-format-low="http://video.news.sky.com/video/h264/vod/374/2014/08/180814IraqMosulDamWeb1408372973984374.mp4" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; width: 540px; word-spacing: 0px;"> <div class="video__placeholder-wrapper js-video" style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; height: 0px; padding-bottom: 303px; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--16x9" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 303px; position: relative;"> <img alt="" class="image__item video__teaser-image js-responsive" data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="144x81 362x204 762x428 942x530" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330221/default/v2/cegrab-20140818-154229-295-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330221/default/v2/cegrab-20140818-154229-295-1-942x530.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(220, 220, 220); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 303px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <button aria-labelledby="video__caption-1320789" class="video__play--icon" style="-webkit-appearance: button; background-image: url(http://news.sky.com/images/ffa94923.play-icon.png); background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: contain; border: none; bottom: 8px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; height: 46px; left: 7px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: absolute; text-transform: none; width: 46px;"><span class="video__play-a11y" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); display: inline-block; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute !important; width: 1px;">Play video</span></button></div> <span class="video__caption" id="video__caption-1320789" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; display: block; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 40px; padding: 10px 8px; width: 540px;"><span class="video__type" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextMedium, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1rem;">Video:</span> <span class="video__teaser" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 1rem;">Smoke Rises Near Vital Iraqi Dam</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Iraq's government had earmarked billions to repair the dam, which is also the source of electricity for about a million people and clean water for much of northern Iraq.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> And while IS has pretentions to establishing a "caliphate" over much of Syria and Iraq, it is unlikely the ranks of its militants include advanced construction engineers capable of keeping the dam from collapsing.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> In 2007, the US Army Corps of Engineers surveyed the structure and concluded the dam was "the most dangerous in the world".</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Kurdish peshmerga fighters, with the support of airstrikes by US warplanes, <a href="http://news.sky.com/story/1320514/cameron-we-are-not-going-to-war-in-iraq" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(203, 203, 203); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3157a1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_self"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: SkyTextMedium, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-weight: 700;">are battling for control of the dam</strong></a>.</div> <div class="module gallery gallery--4x3" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; -webkit-transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px); background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; width: 540px; word-spacing: 0px;"> <div aria-hidden="true" class="gallery__position" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; margin-top: 10px; padding: 405px 10px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: right; top: 0px; width: 540px; z-index: 99;"> <span class="js-gallery-current" style="box-sizing: border-box;">1</span>/<span class="js-gallery-total" style="box-sizing: border-box;">23</span></div> <div class="gallery__container" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 54000px;"> <ol aria-labelledby="gallery__teaser--1320729" class="gallery__list" style="-webkit-transform: translateX(-1%); box-sizing: border-box; left: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 54000px;"> <li aria-hidden="true" class="gallery__item gallery__item--last" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330185/default/v3/453728922-10-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330185/default/v3/453728922-10-1-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item gallery__item--first" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image js-responsive" data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/19/330283/default/v5/pesh-blanket-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/19/330283/default/v5/pesh-blanket-1-1600x1200.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> <div class="gallery__teaser" id="gallery__teaser--1320729" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"> <span class="gallery__module-type" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextMedium, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1rem;">Gallery:</span> IS militants lose control of Mosul Dam</div> <div class="gallery__caption" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 100ms; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 1.125rem; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 100ms; width: 472px;"> A peshmerga fighter guards a front line position in fighting with Islamic State militants near Mosul</div> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/19/330285/default/v4/pesh-smoke-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/19/330285/default/v4/pesh-smoke-1-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/19/330286/default/v4/pesh-rest-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/19/330286/default/v4/pesh-rest-1-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/19/330287/default/v4/pesh-car-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/19/330287/default/v4/pesh-car-1-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/19/330288/default/v4/pesh-ramadi-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/19/330288/default/v4/pesh-ramadi-1-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330187/default/v3/453741620-10-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330187/default/v3/453741620-10-1-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330188/default/v2/453742336-10-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330188/default/v2/453742336-10-1-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330198/default/v2/453741742-2-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330198/default/v2/453741742-2-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330200/default/v2/453741814-2-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330200/default/v2/453741814-2-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330201/default/v2/453741622-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330201/default/v2/453741622-1-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330199/default/v2/rtr42sdj-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330199/default/v2/rtr42sdj-1-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330197/default/v2/453746072-10-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330197/default/v2/453746072-10-1-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330193/default/v2/453744782-10-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330193/default/v2/453744782-10-1-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330190/default/v2/453744422-10-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330190/default/v2/453744422-10-1-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330189/default/v2/453744310-10-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330189/default/v2/453744310-10-1-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330196/default/v2/453746134-10-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330196/default/v2/453746134-10-1-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330192/default/v2/453745950-10-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330192/default/v2/453745950-10-1-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330195/default/v2/453745968-10-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330195/default/v2/453745968-10-1-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330182/default/v3/453728926-10-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330182/default/v3/453728926-10-1-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330191/default/v2/453744760-10-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330191/default/v2/453744760-10-1-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330194/default/v2/453744770-10-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330194/default/v2/453744770-10-1-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330202/default/v2/rtr42t0v-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330202/default/v2/rtr42t0v-1-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li class="gallery__item gallery__item--last" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image " data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330185/default/v3/453728922-10-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330185/default/v3/453728922-10-1-300x225.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> </div> </li> <li aria-hidden="true" class="gallery__item gallery__item--first" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 540px;"><div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 405px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; width: 540px;"> <img alt="" class="image__item gallery__image js-responsive" data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="300x225 480x360 800x600 960x720 1024x768 1600x1200" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/19/330283/default/v5/pesh-blanket-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/19/330283/default/v5/pesh-blanket-1-1600x1200.jpg" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery__text" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 2.688rem; padding: 10px 3.75rem 15px 8px;"> <div class="gallery__teaser" id="gallery__teaser--1320729" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"> <span class="gallery__module-type" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextMedium, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1rem;">Gallery:</span> IS militants lose control of Mosul Dam</div> <div class="gallery__caption" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 100ms; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 1.125rem; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 100ms; width: 472px;"> A peshmerga fighter guards a front line position in fighting with Islamic State militants near Mosul</div> </div> </li> </ol> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="gallery__control-container" style="-webkit-transform: translateZ(0px); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; padding-bottom: 405px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 540px; z-index: 100;"> <div class="gallery__area gallery__area--left" data-direction="left" style="-webkit-touch-callout: none; -webkit-user-select: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; height: 405px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 270px;"> <button class="gallery__control gallery__control--left" data-direction="left" style="-webkit-appearance: button; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 35px; border-bottom-right-radius: 35px; border-top-left-radius: 35px; border-top-right-radius: 35px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; clip: rect(0px 70px 70px 35px); color: #dddddd; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: skycons; font-size: 28px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 70px; left: -35px; line-height: normal; margin: -35px 0px 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; position: absolute; speak: none; text-align: left; text-decoration: inherit; text-indent: 42px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-shadow: rgb(0, 0, 0) 0px 0px 0px; text-transform: none; top: 50%; transition: all 0.2s ease-in; vertical-align: middle; width: 70px;"></button></div> <div class="gallery__area gallery__area--right" data-direction="right" style="-webkit-touch-callout: none; -webkit-user-select: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; height: 405px; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px; width: 270px;"> <button class="gallery__control gallery__control--right" data-direction="right" style="-webkit-appearance: button; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 35px; border-bottom-right-radius: 35px; border-top-left-radius: 35px; border-top-right-radius: 35px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; clip: rect(0px 35px 70px 0px); color: #dddddd; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: skycons; font-size: 28px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 70px; line-height: normal; margin: -35px 0px 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: -35px; speak: none; text-align: left; text-decoration: inherit; text-indent: 10px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-shadow: rgb(0, 0, 0) 0px 0px 0px; text-transform: none; top: 50%; transition: all 0.2s ease-in; vertical-align: middle; width: 70px;"></button></div> </div> </div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> It's a ginger process.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> The IS fighters are battle hardened. They are also demolitions experts and have unleashed a tide of bloody religious slaughter across a third of Iraq and Syria.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> They have sown the countryside around the dam with improvised explosive devices and mines.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> There are fears they might have also rigged the dam for destruction.</div> <div class="module module--inline video" data-format-high="http://video.news.sky.com/video/h264/vod/700/2014/08/IRAQParmenter1408363655701700.mp4" data-format-low="http://video.news.sky.com/video/h264/vod/374/2014/08/IRAQParmenter1408363655701374.mp4" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; width: 540px; word-spacing: 0px;"> <div class="video__placeholder-wrapper js-video" style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; height: 0px; padding-bottom: 303px; position: relative; width: 540px;"> <div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--16x9" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 303px; position: relative;"> <img alt="" class="image__item video__teaser-image js-responsive" data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="144x81 362x204 762x428 942x530" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330054/default/v3/cegrab-20140818-035737-349-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/18/330054/default/v3/cegrab-20140818-035737-349-1-942x530.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(220, 220, 220); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 303px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> </div> <button aria-labelledby="video__caption-1320682" class="video__play--icon" style="-webkit-appearance: button; background-image: url(http://news.sky.com/images/ffa94923.play-icon.png); background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: contain; border: none; bottom: 8px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; height: 46px; left: 7px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: absolute; text-transform: none; width: 46px;"><span class="video__play-a11y" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); display: inline-block; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute !important; width: 1px;">Play video</span></button></div> <span class="video__caption" id="video__caption-1320682" style="background-color: #f4f4f4; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; display: block; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.125rem; min-height: 40px; padding: 10px 8px; width: 540px;"><span class="video__type" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextMedium, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1rem;">Video:</span> <span class="video__teaser" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 1rem;">PM: 'We Are Not Going To War'</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> This may be an exaggerated concern. The IS is violent and extreme but there are no signs it is idiotic.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Its recent tactical successes have been carefully orchestrated as part of a wider strategy to create a caliphate not even al Qaeda managed to establish.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Sending a wall of water crashing down the Tigris valley and drowning mostly fellow Sunni Muslims would rob the caliphate of potential supporters and guarantee the survivors would turn against its brutal interpretation of Islam.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> But this doesn't mean the dam may be damaged in fighting.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Nor that it would be able to survive intact if the IS manages to hang on, or in tit-for-tat-operations the dam's relentless need for reinforcement was fatally interrupted<br />.</div> </section></div>

Crucial Battle For World's Most Dangerous Dam

Allowing Iraq's strategically important Mosul Dam to burst, killing as many as 500,000 people, is a risk neither side can take. 17:...

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