Mar 28 Watch 7:26 Long-awaited battle to take back Mosul from ISIS will be toughest yet By PBS News Hour Since the Islamic State forces overran the city nearly two years ago, Mosul in Iraq has become a vital hub for ISIS’s operations in the region. Now the Iraqi army, supported by Kurdish and American forces, has launched a long-awaited… Continue watching
Mar 27 Watch 3:26 Are foreign recruits causing ideological rifts in ISIS? By PBS News Hour The U.S. Director of National Intelligence says the number of men who have traveled from their home countries to join ISIS now exceeds 36,000. The influx of foreign fighters may now be causing ideological discord in its ranks. Wall Street… Continue watching
Mar 26 ISIS claims suicide strike that killed at least 41 in Iraq By Michael D. Regan The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a suicide attack Friday inside an Iraqi soccer stadium that killed 41 people. Many of the victims were children. Continue reading
Mar 25 Watch 2:09 News Wrap: Suicide bomber strikes soccer game in Iraq By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Friday, a suicide bomber struck a soccer stadium south of Baghdad, killing 29 people and injuring dozens more. Also, heavy fighting raged in Palmyra as Syrian government forces, supported by Russian airstrikes, fought to recapture the… Continue watching
Mar 25 Pentagon moving to increase U.S. troop numbers in Iraq soon By Robert Burns, Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Pentagon said Friday it was moving to increase the number of American forces in Iraq and announced that U.S. forces have killed the Islamic State’s finance minister. “We are systematically eliminating ISIL’s cabinet,” Defense Secretary Ash Carter… Continue reading
Mar 25 U.S. killed senior Islamic State leader, Carter says By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press WASHINGTON — U.S. officials say a senior Islamic State leader has been killed, marking a further erosion of top leadership in the militant group in Syria and Iraq. Continue reading
Mar 24 U.S. official says Marines expanding combat role in Iraq By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press WASHINGTON -- The American combat role in Iraq appeared to expand on Thursday as U.S. Marines operating from a small outpost provided targeting assistance and artillery fire to support Iraqi troops inching forward to retake Mosul from Islamic State militants. Continue reading
Mar 24 Iraq launches offensive to retake Mosul from Islamic State fighters By Larisa Epatko Iraqi armed forces have started an operation to retake the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State militants, who have held the beleaguered city for nearly two years. Continue reading
Mar 21 U.S. Marines deploy to northern Iraq to provide protection By Robert Burns, Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press WASHINGTON -- The U.S. has set up a small Marine artillery outpost in northern Iraq to protect a nearby Iraqi military base where U.S. advisers are helping Iraqi combat troops plan and prepare for a counteroffensive in Mosul, a U.S. Continue reading
Mar 07 Obama to shore up credibility for U.S. drone program with casualty report By Josh Lederman, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Obama administration will disclose how many people have been killed by U.S. drones and counterterrorism strikes since 2009, the White House said Monday, lifting one element of secrecy shrouding the controversial counterterrorism program. Continue reading