There’s a strange combination of sounds coming from the top of the idyllic Korek mountain near Erbil in northern Iraq — the sound of exploding pellets accompanied by raucous laughter. Unlike those used in the army offensive in nearby Mosul, these pellets are fired from a friendly paintball gun in a swanky ski resort only a relatively short drive away. The resort, which first opened in 2013, boasts glistening ski slopes, several restaurants and amusement park-style attractions, and quickly became popular with Iraqis and Kurds seeking respite in the snowy landscape.
