• Pentagon: U.S. launches first airstrikes in Iraq

    Pentagon: U.S. launches first airstrikes in Iraq

    Aug 08, 2014 01:54 PM EDT

    WASHINGTON -- U.S. fighters dropped bombs on Islamic militants in Iraq Friday, the Pentagon said, carrying out President Barack Obama's promise of military force to counter the advancing militants and confront the threat they pose to Iraqi civilians and Americans still stationed there. Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm. John ...

  • President Obama authorizes airstrikes on militants in Iraq

    President Obama authorizes airstrikes on militants in Iraq

    Aug 08, 2014 01:25 AM EDT

    ... remarks in a steady and somber tone, has staked much of his legacy as president on ending what he has called the "dumb war" in Iraq. Obama said the humanitarian airdrops were made at the request of the Iraqi government. The food and water supplies were delivered to the tens ...

  • Obama considering air support operation for Iraqi refugees

    Obama considering air support operation for Iraqi refugees

    Aug 07, 2014 11:29 PM EDT

    ... JUDY WOODRUFF: As the humanitarian situation grows dimmer by the hour for some in Northern Iraq, the White House is now considering taking military action against Sunni extremists inside the country. Hari Sreenivasan reports. JOSH EARNEST, White House Press Secretary: Any sort of military action that would be taken ...

  • Is the U.S. bombing Islamic State Group in Iraq? The news is unclear

    Is the U.S. bombing Islamic State Group in Iraq? The news is unclear

    Aug 07, 2014 10:19 PM EDT

    There was confusion about possible U.S. actions against Islamic State Group forces in Iraq Thursday night, as news organizations published differing and contradictory reports about possible air strikes or humanitarian drops. The Pentagon denied that the U.S. dropped bombs or humanitarian supplies for Kurdish Iraqis stranded by ISIS ...

  • Obama weighs airstrikes, aid as humanitarian crisis builds in Iraq

    Obama weighs airstrikes, aid as humanitarian crisis builds in Iraq

    Aug 07, 2014 07:19 PM EDT

    ... name. Iraq has been under siege for months by the al-Qaida-breakaway group seeking to create an Islamic state in territory it controls in Iraq and Syria and imposing its harsh interpretation of Islamic law. Iraqi government forces, Kurds and allied Sunni tribal militiamen have been struggling to dislodge ...

  • Islamic State makes new gains in Iraq

    Islamic State makes new gains in Iraq

    Aug 03, 2014 10:16 PM EDT

    ... HARI SREENIVASAN: For the latest from Iraq we are joined now from Baghdad via Skype by Nour Malas of the Wall Street Journal. First of all how significant was the capture of these two towns? NOUR MALAS: It’s quite significant because since the Islamic state started its offensive ...

  • FAA issues new restrictions on flights over Iraq

    FAA issues new restrictions on flights over Iraq

    Aug 01, 2014 01:44 PM EDT

    WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration is restricting U.S. airlines from flying at or below 30,000 feet over Iraq because of what it calls "the potentially hazardous situation created by the armed conflict" there. The agency already had restricted flights in Iraqi air space to a 20,000-foot ...

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    Islamic militants destroy sacred Iraqi shrine

    Jul 25, 2014 05:36 PM EDT

    IS demolished a sacred mosque in Mosul, Iraq on Thursday Islamic militants in Mosul, Iraq on Thursday blew up a sacred mosque that was considered the final resting place of the Prophet Jonah. Since June, Mosul has been under control of IS, formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq ...

  • News Wrap: UN reports sharp rise of Iraq civilian deaths

    News Wrap: UN reports sharp rise of Iraq civilian deaths

    Jul 18, 2014 11:57 PM EDT

    ... That word comes in a new report from the United Nations. It says that between January and June, nearly 5,600 civilians were killed in Iraq. There were just over 7,800 killed in all of 2013. Sunni extremists have stepped up their fight against the Iraqi government since the ...

  • International military aid to Iraq may offer little help

    International military aid to Iraq may offer little help

    Jul 13, 2014 07:50 PM EDT

    ... Lebanon, into Turkey, into Jordan and other areas. HARI SREENIVASAN: We also see troops amassing along the border of neighboring countries. Are they concerned that Iraq cannot stay together as a single country anymore? ANTHONY CORDESMAN: Well I think everyone is concerned that Iraq may not stay together as a ...