Iraq's second largest city, Mosul, is locked under the rule of extremists from the Islamic State group trying to purge it of everything they see as contradicting their stark vision of Islam. A trove of photographs now housed at the Library of Congress offers a glimpse of a different Mosul – before wars, insurgency, sectarian strife and now radicals' rule. The scenes were taken in the autumn of 1932 by staff from the American Colony Photo Department during a visit to Iraq at the end of the British mandate. (Photo by AP Photo)

A member of Libyan forces allied with the U.N.-backed government fires a weapon on a pickup truck during a battle with Islamic State militants in Giza Bahreya, in Sirte, Libya October 27, 2016. (Photo by Hani Amara/Reuters)

Members of the Iraqi Army fire towards Islamic State militant positions at the south of Mosul, Iraq December 10, 2016. (Photo by Alaa Al-Marjani/Reuters)

Members of Krewe Delusion, one of the the first parades of the Mardi Gras festivities, through the French Quarter of New Orleans January 31, 2015. (Photo by Lee Celano/Reuters)

A crew members walks on the flight deck past Super Etendard fighter jets aboard France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier on missino in the Gulf, January 29, 2016. (Photo by Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)

Members of the LGBT community kiss during a Kissathon to celebrate International Day Against Homophobia, outside Bellas Artes museum in Mexico City, Mexico, May 17, 2016. (Photo by Edgard Garrido/Reuters)

Crew members work to secure a hot air balloon after landing during the 2015 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 4, 2015. (Photo by Lucas Jackson/Reuters)