So I recently went to Iraq. The last time I was there was in 2007 for OP TELIC 10. If you would have asked me back then If I could see myself back there I would have laughed.

I was in Al Asad Airbase west of Baghdad to cover 4 RIFLES on OP SHADER.

I spent two weeks there altogether covering everything from the Royal Engineers fitting out the new LAD, members of the BPC (Building Partnership Capacity) team training Iraqi soldiers in the fight against Daish and even a visit from the Secretay of State for Defence!

Scroll down to check out the images.

ARMYHQ-2017-017-OP SHADER 4 RIFLES-281-TJPictured: The sun rises behind a Mastiff vehicle on Al Asad Airbase, Iraq.





Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016

TIM_5833Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016

ARMYHQ-2017-017-OP SHADER 4 RIFLES-028-TJPhotographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 ARMYHQ-2017-017-OP SHADER 4 RIFLES-035-TJPhotographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 ARMYHQ-2017-017-OP SHADER 4 RIFLES-043-TJPhotographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_5201Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016

TIM_5913Pictured: Soldiers from 4 RIFLES, part of the security force move to carry out checks in a Mastiff around Al Asad Airbase.





Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_5441Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016

TIM_6573Pictured:



Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_5493Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_5609Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_5686Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_5779Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 ARMYHQ-2017-017-OP SHADER 4 RIFLES-009-TJPhotographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_5844Pictured: Soldier from 4 RIFLES mentor the Iraqi Border Guard force in the art of vehicle check points and searching personal.



Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_5845Pictured: Soldier from 4 RIFLES mentor the Iraqi Border Guard force in the art of vehicle check points and searching personal.



Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_5885Pictured: Soldier from 4 RIFLES mentor the Iraqi Border Guard force in the art of vehicle check points and searching personal.



Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_5886Pictured: Soldier from 4 RIFLES Check on the sentry positions manned by the Iraqi Airforce.





Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_5893Pictured: Soldiers from 4 RIFLES, part of the security force move to carry out checks in a Mastiff around Al Asad Airbase.





Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_6180Pictured:



Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_6206Pictured:



Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_6221Pictured:



Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_6301Pictured: Iraqi Boarder Guard shows off his shooting skills on the range at Al Asad Airbase.





Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016

TIM_6343Pictured: The Iraqi Border Guard checking their firing on the range at Al Asad Airbase, Iraq.



Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_6354Pictured:



Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_6372Pictured: Soldiers from 4 RIFLES use Mastiff vehicles for transport around Al Asad Airbase.



Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_6791Pictured: Secretary of State for Defence Sir Michael Falon MP visits 4 RIFLES at Al Asad Airbase, Iraq



Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_6791Pictured: Secretary of State for Defence Sir Michael Falon MP visits 4 RIFLES at Al Asad Airbase, Iraq



Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_6504Pictured:



Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_6144Pictured: Danish soldier fires a 50 Cal heavy machine gun from the top of a British Mastiff vehicle.



Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_6473Pictured: Iraqi Armed forces are taught principals of machine gun firing.



Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_6467Pictured:



Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_6480Pictured:



Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016 TIM_6522Pictured:



Photographer: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC Crown Copyright 2016