War photographer killed in Mosul: IOPF
File photo of Iraqi war photographer, Hassan, Naji al-Abdi, who was killed during offensive to liberate Hatra, Mosul
The photographer, Hassan Naji al-Abdi, was killed on Sunday as he was accompanying the Iraqi troops and the paramilitary forces of al-Hashd al-Shaabi during battles to liberate the city.
On Thursday, Public Mobilization Units (PMUs) announced liberating Hatra region after an offensive was launched on Tuesday to cut off the IS routes between Hawija, Mosul and eastern Syria.
The first Iraqi slain journalist in 2017 was Abdul Qader al-Qaisi, who was kidnapped and then found by security forces in January. His body was dumped on the road between Kirkuk and Baghdad. Another journalist Afrah Shawqi was abducted for nine days and then released.
In December, a report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said seven reporters were killed in Iraq in 2016, out of a total of 57 who were killed in conflict areas across the world. Syria came on top of the death tally with 19 victims. The total for 2016 was, however, a drop from the 101 death count of 2015.