Aug 08 Pentagon: U.S. launches first airstrikes in Iraq By Julie Pace, Robert Burns, Associated Press WASHINGTON -- U.S. fighters dropped bombs on Islamic militants in Iraq Friday, the Pentagon said, redeeming President Barack Obama's promise of military force to counter the advancing militants and confront the threat they pose to Iraqi civilians and Americans. Continue reading
Aug 07 President Obama authorizes airstrikes on militants in Iraq By Julie Pace, Robert Burns, Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama announced Thursday night he had authorized the Pentagon to launch targeted airstrikes if needed to protect Americans from Islamic militants in northern Iraq and help Iraqi security forces protect civilians under siege, threatening to revive… Continue reading
Aug 07 Watch Islamic State movement into Kurdish territory changes equation for U.S. By PBS News Hour The White House is weighing launching airstrikes and sending humanitarian aid as the crisis darkens for displaced Christians and Yazidis fleeing Islamist militants in northern Iraq. Karen DeYoung of The Washington Post joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss how the rationale… Continue watching
Aug 07 Watch Obama considering air support operation for Iraqi refugees By PBS News Hour President Obama is reportedly considering "very limited" military action in Iraq against the Islamic State group. The Sunni extremists have renewed their surge across Northern Iraq, sending thousands of Christians and Yazidis fleeing from ultimatums to convert to Islam, pay… Continue watching
Aug 07 Is the U.S. bombing Islamic State Group in Iraq? The news is unclear By News Desk There was confusion about possible U.S. actions against ISIS 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… Continue reading
Aug 07 Obama weighs airstrikes, aid as humanitarian crisis builds in Iraq By Julie Pace, Robert Burns, Associated Press President Barack Obama huddled with his national security team Thursday morning to discuss the crisis as the Islamic State group made further gains. Airstrikes in particular would mark a significant shift in the U.S. strategy in Iraq, where the military… Continue reading
Aug 03 Watch Islamic State makes new gains in Iraq By PBS News Hour The Sunni insurgent group known as the Islamic State made new gains in Iraq Sunday, including seizing the northern Iraqi town of Wana near Mosul Dam, the largest dam in the country. For the latest, Nour Malas of the Wall… Continue watching
Aug 01 FAA issues new restrictions on flights over Iraq By Associated Press 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. Continue reading
Jul 25 Islamic militants destroy sacred Iraqi shrine By Frank Carlson Islamic militants in Mosul, Iraq on Thursday blew up a sacred mosque that was considered the final resting place of the Prophet Jonah. Continue reading
Jul 18 Watch News Wrap: UN reports sharp rise of Iraq civilian deaths By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Friday, the United Nations reported that between January and June, nearly 5,600 civilians were killed in Iraq. Sunni extremists have stepped up their fight against the Iraqi government since the beginning of the year. Also, the… Continue watching