Apr 13 Ex-Blackwater guards receive lengthy prison sentences for Iraq shootings By Sam Hananel, Associated Press WASHINGTON — A federal judge sentenced former Blackwater security guard Nicholas Slatten to life in prison and three others to 30-year terms for their roles in a 2007 shooting that killed 14 Iraqi civilians and wounded 17 others. Continue reading
Apr 05 Watch 2:28 What do recent gains in Syria mean for the Islamic State? By PBS News Hour Despite being ousted recently from Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, Iraq, the Islamic State made important new gains this weekend in Syria, taking control of an area near Damascus. Part of what is driving the extremist group's success is the… Continue watching
Mar 29 Watch 3:33 What does an Arab League joint military force mean for the crisis in Yemen? By PBS News Hour The decision by the 21 nations of the Arab League to create a joint military force because of the crisis in Yemen raises the question: Why didn't the organization mobilize the same way to fight ISIS in Iraq? Matt Bradley… Continue watching
Mar 25 U.S. airstrikes against Islamic State group begin in Iraq By Robert Burns, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Iraqi government has asked the U.S. to provide airstrikes in support of a stalled Iraqi ground offensive against a dug-in Islamic State force in the northern city of Tikrit, a U.S. official said Wednesday. Continue reading
Mar 24 Obama finalizes slowdown of U.S. troop withdrawal with Afghan leader By Josh Lederman, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The White House said Tuesday the U.S. will keep its current complement of 9,800 troops in Afghanistan through the end of 2015, instead of cutting the number by about half as originally planned. Continue reading
Mar 22 CIA director: Iranian general 'complicating' US efforts in Iraq By Associated Press The leader of Iran's elite Quds Force is contributing to instability in Iraq and complicating the U.S. mission against terrorism with his command of some of the Iraqi forces battling Islamic State militants, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency… Continue reading
Mar 22 Watch 3:00 Will the U.S. release photos of detainee treatment in Iraq and Afghanistan? By PBS News Hour Continue watching
Mar 21 Judge: U.S. must release photos of detainee abuse in Iraq, Afghanistan By Elisabeth Ponsot A federal judge ruled on Friday that the government must release photographs that depict abuse of detainees by American military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan. Continue reading
Mar 21 8 things you didn't know about Assyrian Christians By Daniel Costa-Roberts Fighting to protect Alqosh in northern Iraq is an Assyrian Christian militia known as Dyvekh Nawsha. But who are the Assyrian Christians? Here are eight things you should know about this ethnic minority group, whose members are spread across the… Continue reading
Mar 21 Watch 7:09 Former U.S. soldier joins militia to defend Christian faith in Iraq By PBS News Hour Continue watching