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In Hirri, a tiny village nestled between the Euphrates River and the border with Iraq, Khalawi pointed to the faded outline of an Islamic State logo on the wall.

US troops also train and equip what Washington sees as moderate Arab and Kurdish forces east of the Euphrates River and at the al-Tanf military base, close to the border with Iraq and Jordan.

"We said that a gold mine in Erzincan, which is on an active fault line and 300m away from the Euphrates River as the crow flies, is very dangerous," Mr Torun said.

He also warned of a threat to the nearby Euphrates River.

Just south of Baghdad, the urban sprawl gives way to glimpses of green, with lush date palm groves bordering the Euphrates River.