Aug 08 Watch Islamic State fighters defiant after U.S. airstrikes By PBS News Hour American warplanes and an unmanned drone targeted fighters and artillery of the Islamic State militant group in northern Iraq. President Obama announced the strikes — the first since the last U.S. troops left Iraq in 2011 — as thousands of… Continue watching
Aug 08 Obama's strategy is to contain extremists in Iraq By Robert Burns, Lara Jakes, Associated Press Obama insists he will not send American ground troops back to Iraq after having withdrawn them in 2011, fulfilling a campaign promise. Still, even the limited airstrikes against the vicious insurgency show the president's conviction that the U.S. military cannot… Continue reading
Aug 08 U.S. launches more airstrikes in Iraq By Robert Burns, Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press The attacks near the city of Irbil were carried out by armed drones and Navy fighter jets, said the Defense Department's press secretary, Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby. Continue reading
Aug 08 FAA bans U.S. airlines from flying over Iraq By Joan Lowy, Associated Press WASHINGTON -- Federal aviation authorities are prohibiting U.S. airlines and other commercial carriers from flying over Iraq, saying hostilities there could threaten safety. Continue reading
Aug 08 Fleeing Iraqis are in 'extreme fear' and need basic supplies By Larisa Epatko The United States overnight airdropped food and water to Iraqis in the northern part of the country who are trapped by Islamic extremists. Those who were able to escape to safer areas of the Kurdish region “are in extreme fear. Continue reading
Aug 08 Hagel: U.S. airstrikes can effectively target militants in Iraq By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press NEW DELHI -- The U.S. launched its first airstrikes into Iraq Friday as Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warned the U.S. military has enough intelligence to clearly single out and hit Islamic militants if they threaten U.S. interests or the… Continue reading
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