The United States has expanded its targeted air strikes aimed at
Islamic State militants in northern Iraq, as Iraqi security forces push
to retake the vital Mosul Dam. The chairman of the U.S. House
Intelligence Committee said the air strikes and equipment provided to
Kurdish fighters have helped slow the IS advance across Iraq.
President Barack Obama Sunday sent a letter to congressional leaders announcing his authorization of targeted air strikes to support Iraqi forces in their effort to recapture the Mosul Dam from IS militants, referring to it as a “critical infrastructure site.” Obama warned failure of the dam “could threaten the lives of large numbers of civilians, endanger U.S. personnel and facilities, including the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, and prevent the Iraqi government from providing critical services to its people.”
National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said the operations are limited in nature, duration and scope. She said they are being undertaken in coordination with, and at the request of, the Iraqi government.
U.S. Central Command Sunday said the air strikes, the second in the area in as many days, were carried out using fighter and attack aircraft and destroyed three IS armed vehicles, an IS vehicle-mounted anti-aircraft artillery gun, an IS checkpoint and an improvised explosive device (IED) emplacement. All strike aircraft are said to have exited the strike area safely.
There are conflicting reports about whether Kurdish peshmerga fighters, also backed by air strikes, had retaken some or all of the territory surrounding the Mosul Dam, captured by Islamic State fighters earlier this month.
Read more: US Expands Air Strikes to Help Iraqi Forces Retake Mosul Dam
President Barack Obama Sunday sent a letter to congressional leaders announcing his authorization of targeted air strikes to support Iraqi forces in their effort to recapture the Mosul Dam from IS militants, referring to it as a “critical infrastructure site.” Obama warned failure of the dam “could threaten the lives of large numbers of civilians, endanger U.S. personnel and facilities, including the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, and prevent the Iraqi government from providing critical services to its people.”
National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said the operations are limited in nature, duration and scope. She said they are being undertaken in coordination with, and at the request of, the Iraqi government.
U.S. Central Command Sunday said the air strikes, the second in the area in as many days, were carried out using fighter and attack aircraft and destroyed three IS armed vehicles, an IS vehicle-mounted anti-aircraft artillery gun, an IS checkpoint and an improvised explosive device (IED) emplacement. All strike aircraft are said to have exited the strike area safely.
There are conflicting reports about whether Kurdish peshmerga fighters, also backed by air strikes, had retaken some or all of the territory surrounding the Mosul Dam, captured by Islamic State fighters earlier this month.
Read more: US Expands Air Strikes to Help Iraqi Forces Retake Mosul Dam
No comments:
Post a Comment