Mar 25 Pentagon moving to increase U.S. troop numbers in Iraq soon By Robert Burns, Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Pentagon said Friday it was moving to increase the number of American forces in Iraq and announced that U.S. forces have killed the Islamic State’s finance minister. “We are systematically eliminating ISIL’s cabinet,” Defense Secretary Ash Carter… Continue reading
Mar 24 Iraq launches offensive to retake Mosul from Islamic State fighters By Larisa Epatko Iraqi armed forces have started an operation to retake the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State militants, who have held the beleaguered city for nearly two years. Continue reading
Jan 21 U.S., coalition forces to boost efforts against ISIS propaganda By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press PARIS — U.S. and coalition forces are battling Islamic State militants in the skies and on the ground across Iraq and Syria, but the allies are increasingly also targeting the airwaves, where they now are losing the propaganda war. Continue reading
Jan 13 Pentagon lays out plan to take back Mosul, Raqqa from Islamic State group By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press FORT CAMPBELL, KY — Defense Secretary Ash Carter laid out broad plans Wednesday to defeat Islamic State militants and retake the group's key power centers in Iraq and Syria. And he announced that a special commando force has now arrived… Continue reading
Dec 31 Watch 7:56 After Ramadi, bigger fights to come in Iraq against ISIS By PBS News Hour The worst finally seems over for the civilians of Ramadi, who are beginning to emerge after living for months under Islamic State control. Iraqi forces recaptured the city center on Monday, but are still removing bombs and searching for militants. Continue watching
Jun 10 Watch 4:57 One year since Mosul’s capture, White House rolls out plan to send more military trainers By PBS News Hour One year ago, the Islamic State group shocked the world as it captured Iraq's second largest city. Today, the White House laid out plans to send up to 450 more military trainers to that country and to establish a fifth… Continue watching
Mar 03 Pentagon calls Mosul briefing a mistake by CentCom By Robert Burns, Associated Press Top Pentagon officials say U.S. Central Command was wrong to have briefed reporters on plans for an Iraqi-led ground offensive in Mosul. Continue reading
Mar 02 Watch 4:29 News Wrap: Iraq launches offensive to retake Tikrit from Islamic State By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Monday, Iraqi security forces began a ground and air assault on the city of Tikrit, currently held by the Islamic State militant group. Also, Sen. Barbara Mikulski, the longest-serving woman in Congress, announced she won’t seek… Continue watching
Feb 21 Watch In tackling the Islamic State, what are the Mosul mission’s chances for success? By PBS News Hour At a briefing this week, a U.S. official announced plans to take back Iraq’s second biggest city, Mosul, from Islamic State fighters who captured it last June. What are the chances that the operation will succeed? Douglas Ollivant, a military… Continue watching
Feb 19 Mission to retake Mosul likely to begin in April, May By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press The operation to retake Iraq's second largest city from Islamic State militants will likely begin in April or May and will involve about 12 Iraqi brigades, or between 20,000 and 25,000 troops, a senior U.S. military official said Thursday. Continue reading