• 2 out of 3 Americans support U.S. airstrikes in Iraq, Syria

    2 out of 3 Americans support U.S. airstrikes in Iraq, Syria

    Oct 03, 2014 02:34 PM EDT

    ... And despite more than a decade of costly war, about a third favor going beyond airstrikes and putting American military boots on the ground in Iraq or Syria. Obama says he has no plans to send ground troops to Iraq or Syria. A little more than a third say they ...

  • Turkey votes to join foreign military operations in Iraq, Syria

    Turkey votes to join foreign military operations in Iraq, Syria

    Oct 02, 2014 05:13 PM EDT

    UPDATED 1:13 p.m. EDT | Turkey's parliament voted todayto allow its military forces to enter the fray against the Islamic State group. The government submitted a proposal to the parliament Wednesday, seeking approval to expand government authority to deploy troops into both Syria and Iraq. If approved, the ...

  • Obama administration eases policy on preventing civilian casualties in Iraq, Syria

    Obama administration eases policy on preventing civilian casualties in Iraq, Syria

    Oct 01, 2014 08:58 PM EDT

    WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama announced in May 2013 that no lethal strike against a terrorist would be authorized without "near-certainty that no civilians will be killed or injured." But amid unconfirmed reports of civilian casualties, the White House said this week that U.S. bombing in Iraq and Syria ...

  • News Wrap: UK will join airstrikes on Islamic State in Iraq, not Syria

    News Wrap: UK will join airstrikes on Islamic State in Iraq, not Syria

    Sep 27, 2014 12:53 AM EDT

    ... Ed Miliband, though, said he worried that while the Iraq army would try to occupy the vacuum left after attacks on Islamic State forces in Iraq, in Syria, no one knew who would benefit. ED MILIBAND: And in the case of Iraq, it is the Iraq army and the Kurds ...

  • 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

    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.

  • 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

    In an interview with the PBS NewsHour on Friday, President Clinton signaled that he is in full support of President Obama’s plan to degrade and destroy the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, but he cautioned, “Essentially it’s an away game, and we need to be back on a home team.”