The Peshmerga

A Peshmerga prays at a front line position.

Goats roam a Peshmerga base.

A view from a front line position of traffic leaving Kurdish territory and heading into an Islamic State controlled area.

Peshmerga during downtime at a base.

Peshmerga have a morning wash at a base.

A cook prepares breakfast for officers at a base.

An officer's escort sleeps in the heat of the day while he waits to move again.

Peshmerga swim in an irrigation canal at a front line position.

Peshmerga smoke, sing and play with their phones in the evening.

Peshmerga prepare to go on patrol.

Men slaughter a goat on a base.

Officers eat an evening meal.

Peshmerga pray before going to sleep.

A soldier gestures to a friend during downtime.

A junior officer kills time on his phone.

Peshmerga observe Islamic State territory from a front line position.

The Peshmerga are the military force of Iraqi Kurdistan. Despite being a largely ill-equipped and disorganised force they maintain a strong sense of identity.