Iraq's Hamal Alil Spa
Before the Islamic State group took over the town of Hamam Alil in 2014, people from all over Iraq visited the historic spa south of Mosul. Now that the town has been liberated, the customers have returned.
In between fighting against the Islamic State group, Iraqi soldiers visit Hamal Alil sulphur spa for relaxation. Customers get scrubs, massages and cover themselves with mud after bathing.
AP journalist Bram Janssen is on assignment in Iraq and below is a gallery of his work.
Abdul Aziz, 15, smokes a cigarette while waiting for customers to buy the mud from a sulphur well near the Hamam Alil spa south of Mosul, Iraq on Thursday, April 27, 2017. The mud is supposedly healthy for the skin. Before the Islamic State took over the town of Hamam Alil in 2014, people from all over Iraq visited the historic spa. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
Customers cover themselves with mud from the sulphur well in Hamam Alil south of Mosul, Iraq, on Thursday, April 27, 2017. The mud is supposedly healthy for the skin. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
A customer jumps into the pool filled with water from a sulphur well in Hamam Alli, south of Mosul, Iraq, Thursday, April 27, 2017. Before the Islamic State took over the town of Hamam Alil in 2014, people from all over Iraq visited the historic spa south of Mosul. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen) (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
A customer of the Hamal Alil sulphur spa gets a scrub and massage south of Mosul, Iraq, on Thursday, April 27, 2017. Many Iraqi soldiers visit the spa in between fighting against the Islamic State group for relaxation. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
Customers enjoy the Hamam Alil sulphur spa, situated in an historic building half an hour south of Mosul, Thursday, April 27, 2017. Before the Islamic State took over the town of Hamam Alil in 2014, people from all over Iraq visited the historic spa. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
Two customers of the Hamam Alil spa south of Mosul, Iraq, take a break from bathing after covering themselves with mud from a nearby sulphur well, Thursday, April 27, 2017. The mud is supposedly healthy for the skin. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
A customer is seen through the reflection of a mirror while jumping into the pool in the Hamam Alil spa, Thursday April 27, 2017. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
A customer pours water over himself in the Hamam Alil sulphur spa south of Mosul, Iraq, on Thursday, April 27, 2017. Many Iraqi soldiers go to the spa, located half an hour south of Mosul, in between fighting against the Islamic State group for relaxation. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
A customer shaves in front of a mirror in the Hamam Alil sulphur spa south of Mosul, Iraq, on Thursday, April 27, 2017. Many Iraqi soldiers visit the spa, located half an hour south of Mosul, in between fighting against the Islamic State group for relaxation. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
A federal police officer takes a bath in the Hamal Alil sulphur spa south of Mosul, Iraq, Thursday April, 27, 2017. The spa reopened several months ago after the town was liberated from the Islamic State group. Many Iraqi soldiers visit the spa, located half an hour south of Mosul, in between fighting against the Islamic State group for relaxation. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
A boy swims in the pool filled with water from a sulphur well in the Hamam Alil sulphur spa on Thursday, April 27, 2017. Before the Islamic State took over the town of Hamam Alil in 2014, people from all over Iraq visited the historic spa south of Mosul. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
Photos by Bram Janssen
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