Feb 24 As fighting worsens in Mosul, aid groups struggle to help those who choose to stay By Larisa Epatko Aid groups are discovering that many Iraqis want to stay in their homes, rather than venturing to temporary camps. “We’re not able to get into western Mosul, but we can only predict that the situation there remains dire," said Su’ad… Continue reading
Feb 23 Dunford: Counter-Islamic State plan will have global scope By Robert Burns, Associated Press WASHINGTON — A Pentagon-led review of strategy to defeat the Islamic State group will present President Donald Trump with options not just to speed up action against IS but also to counter al-Qaida and other extremist groups beyond Iraq and… Continue reading
Dec 22 What should Trump do about Syria? We get 5 takes By Larisa Epatko When President-elect Donald Trump enters office on Jan. 20, the bloody war in Syria against the Assad regime will be nearing its sixth year. We asked several analysts what Trump should do about one of the most intractable problems he… Continue reading
Dec 09 Aid groups confront land mines, ethnic tensions in Mosul conflict By Larisa Epatko Tens of thousands of Iraqis are fleeing the brutal battle to retake Mosul from Islamic State fighters. And relief organizations are learning they need to navigate ethnic tensions, along with booby trapped terrain, in their efforts to help. Continue reading
Dec 06 Obama will meet with special ops forces, talk strategy By Kevin Freking, Associated Press WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama will use a visit with special operations forces on Tuesday to highlight gains the U.S. has made against extremist organizations such as the Islamic State group and to promote what he sees as the most… Continue reading
Oct 20 Photos: Iraqis flee violence as forces close in on Mosul By Larisa Epatko As the campaign to free Iraq’s second largest city from Islamic State militants enters its fourth day, aid groups rush to prepare camps for the residents fleeing the fight. Continue reading
Sep 08 U.S. should hunt Islamic State leader, Clinton says By Larisa Epatko Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said Thursday the United States should make its priority combating the Islamic State group and catching its leader. Continue reading
Aug 03 D.C.-area transit police officer faces terrorism charges By Laura Santhanam A Washington, D.C.-area metro transit police officer has been arrested for trying to support the Islamic State group, the first time a U.S. officer has faced terror-related charges, according to federal law enforcement agencies Wednesday. Continue reading
Aug 02 Obama: Libya airstrikes critical to U.S. security By Matthew Lee, Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press WASHINGTON — U.S. airstrikes against the Islamic State group in Libya continued for a second day Tuesday, as President Barack Obama called the new bombing campaign critical to protecting U.S. national security interests. Continue reading
Jun 29 CIA director: We are ‘not immune’ to terrorist violence By Larisa Epatko CIA Director John Brennan said Wednesday that although the United States is an “ocean away” from Islamic State group strongholds, the U.S. is not immune to its attacks. Continue reading