Jun 17 Carter: Iraqi training goal to fall short by 17,000 recruits By Deb Riechmann, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The effort to train Iraqi forces to fight Islamic State militants has been slowed by a lack of recruits and the U.S. will not meet its goal to train 24,000 by this fall, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said… Continue reading
Jun 16 Ret. Gen. Allen: Population in liberated Syrian town still needs protecting By Larisa Epatko The fight against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq will be a tough slog, but forces have made some progress, including cutting off a key supply route to the militants’ self-proclaimed capital Raqqa in Syria, said retired Gen. George… Continue reading
Jun 16 Is U.S. losing to Islamic State group's social media appeal? General says no By Larisa Epatko Despite reports saying the United States has an uphill climb in countering the Islamic State group’s propaganda on social media, retired Marine Corps Gen. John Allen said Tuesday, “I don’t agree with the broad characterization that we’re losing” the war… Continue reading
Jun 10 Will more U.S. military might in Iraq keep forces from 'taking a licking'? By Larisa Epatko President Barack Obama’s plan to bulk up the U.S. military presence in Iraq by adding up to 450 more advisers and trainers has come under scrutiny, including from retired U.S. Army Col. Andrew Bacevich, who said he was skeptical it… Continue reading
Jun 10 U.S. to send more troops to Iraq for expanded training mission By Nedra Pickler and Robert Burns, Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama ordered the deployment of up to 450 more U.S. troops to Iraq on Wednesday to advise and assist local forces in an effort to reverse the recent gains of the Islamic State. Continue reading
Apr 17 Iraq's 'king of clubs' reportedly killed in Tikrit By Larisa Epatko Deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein’s right-hand man, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, who more recently allied himself with Islamic State militants, was killed by government forces in Tikrit, the city’s provincial governor told the Associated Press on Friday. Continue reading
Mar 16 Four years into war, Syrian Americans renew their calls against Assad, IS By Noreen Nasir, Shehryar Nabi On Sunday, hundreds of Syrian Americans from around the country gathered for a fourth year in front of the White House to commemorate the beginning of the revolution, and to honor the 220,000 people who have been killed since it… Continue reading
Mar 11 Kurdish president weighs broader role in Islamic State fight By Jane Arraf NEAR ZUMAR, Iraq -- Kurdish President Masoud Barzani looks out at the rolling hills beyond the sandbags of a forward command base near the Syrian border. Continue reading
Mar 02 Iraq reopens museum in defiance of jihadist threat By Larisa Epatko The Iraqi National Museum, ransacked after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, has reopened 12 years later displaying ancient winged creatures, tablets and sculptures in stone. Continue reading
Jan 29 'I am Kenji' Facebook page rallies around Japanese hostage By Larisa Epatko A hastily constructed Facebook page, titled “I am Kenji,” calls for Islamic State militants to free Japanese journalist Kenji Goto. His captors gave a deadline of sundown Thursday to work out a prisoner swap for a female attempted suicide bomber. Continue reading