• Protecting ancient treasures from becoming casualties in Iraq and Syria

    Protecting ancient treasures from becoming casualties in Iraq and Syria

    Sep 24, 2014 11:37 PM EDT

    ... GWEN IFILL: Now to another form of destruction taking place in Syria and Iraq, that of history itself. Jeffrey Brown looks at that side of the story, part of his series Culture at Risk. JEFFREY BROWN: On a site dating back to the 8th century B.C., this mosque ...

  • U.S., Arab allies hit Islamic State strongholds in Syria, Iraq

    U.S., Arab allies hit Islamic State strongholds in Syria, Iraq

    Sep 23, 2014 01:42 PM EDT

    ... The U.S. military has been launching targeted airstrikes in Iraq since August, focusing specifically on attacks to protect U.S. interests and personnel, assist Iraqi refugees and secure critical infrastructure. Last week, as part of the newly expanded campaign, the U.S. began going after militant targets across Iraq ...

  • Obama stresses U.S. forces in Iraq will advise, not join combat

    Obama stresses U.S. forces in Iraq will advise, not join combat

    Sep 18, 2014 12:27 AM EDT

    ... his policy at U.S. Central Command in Tampa, headquarters for operations in the Middle East. Hundreds of U.S. special forces are already in Iraq, but Mr. Obama insisted they are only there as advisers. BARACK OBAMA: They will support Iraqi forces on the ground as they fight for ...

  • Dempsey leaves open possibility of U.S. military advisors in Iraq joining combat

    Dempsey leaves open possibility of U.S. military advisors in Iraq joining combat

    Sep 17, 2014 12:17 AM EDT

    ... said the answer is no.  But Army General Martin Dempsey, chair of the Joint Chiefs, left open the role of several hundred Americans already in Iraq.  They're now advising Iraqi and Kurdish Peshmerga forces. GEN. MARTIN DEMPSEY, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff: If we reach the point where I ...

  • White House still seeking coalition to fight Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria

    White House still seeking coalition to fight Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria

    Sep 14, 2014 08:21 PM EDT

    WASHINGTON -- The White House said Sunday it will find countries willing to send combat troops to fight Islamic extremists in Syria and Iraq, but it's too early to identify them. White House chief of staff Denis McDonough signaled that the State Department in coming days will name allies that ...

  • Clinton: Islamic State can be destroyed, but only with help from Iraqis

    Clinton: Islamic State can be destroyed, but only with help from Iraqis

    Sep 12, 2014 08:55 PM EDT

    ... Iraq to fortify local forces with training and equipment. The former president, who oversaw military action in Bosnia and enforced no-fly zones on former Iraq leader Saddam Hussein, cited changes in the Iraqi government, the fact that Sunni tribal chiefs seem ready to fight and the strength of the ...

  • Why do some Iraqis support the Islamic State group?

    Why do some Iraqis support the Islamic State group?

    Sep 11, 2014 08:48 PM EDT

    ... Nussaibah Younis, a senior research associate for the Project on Middle East Democracy and a specialist on Iraq. But, she said, some elements of the Iraqi Sunni community do support the militant group because they feel they are being persecuted by the Iraqi state. “They see the Iraqi government as ...

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    Retired Marine Gen. John Allen to coordinate Iraq, Syria effort

    Sep 11, 2014 07:00 PM EDT

    ... agreed to join the fight. Allen comes to the job with vast experience coordinating international allies on the warfront. He served as deputy commander in Iraq's Anbar province from 2006 to 2008, working with Arab partners on organizing the Sunni uprising against al-Qaida. He was the top U ...

  • Full speech: Obama's plan to fight Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria
  • What do Iraqi leaders hope to hear from Obama’s strategy?

    What do Iraqi leaders hope to hear from Obama’s strategy?

    Sep 10, 2014 11:47 PM EDT

    ... JUDY WOODRUFF: Meanwhile, inside Iraq today, at least 30 people were killed in a series of attacks targeting security forces and markets in Baghdad. Wall Street Journal reporter Matt Bradley is on the ground there. I spoke with him a short while ago. Matt Bradley, welcome. We just reported ...