In pictures: Iraq's neighbourhood patrols

In the main Shia part of Shoula, Abbas Salim - who is Shia himself - owns a cafe. His family have run it for 35 years.

"We are very careful. We are taking many security precautions, but it's in God's hands.

"We are afraid of cars pulling up and parking here, we worry that they contain car bombs. We are always watching out for things like that.

"So far, we have been safe – but we carry weapons just to defend ourselves."