Oct 01 Airstrikes launched amid intelligence gaps By Ken Dilanian, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is grappling with significant intelligence gaps as it bombs Iraq and Syria, and it is operating under less restrictive targeting rules than those President Barack Obama imposed on the CIA drone campaign in Pakistan and Yemen,… Continue reading
Sep 19 U.S. military rushes to deploy help as Ebola spread accelerates By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Gen. Ray Odierno, the Army chief of staff, said the disease has accelerated faster than initially thought, so the U.S. needs to get people on the ground and ramp up numbers quickly. President Barack Obama has pledged 3,000 troops, and… Continue reading
Sep 16 Watch Dempsey leaves open possibility of U.S. military advisors in Iraq joining combat By PBS News Hour The use of American troops to battle the Islamic State has not been ruled out, according to Gen. Martin Dempsey during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel underscored that the U.S. air campaign… Continue watching
Sep 03 Watch Obama condemns Russia’s actions in Ukraine By PBS News Hour On a trip to Estonia, President Obama placed blame on Russian separatists for destabilizing eastern Ukraine. He also pledged support for the U.S.’ NATO allies. Meanwhile, reports surfaced of a potential cease-fire agreement in Ukraine. Margaret Warner reports. Continue watching
Aug 27 Watch U.S. considers expanding Islamic State mission with airstrikes over Syria By PBS News Hour Continue watching
Aug 11 U.S. sends disaster relief team to Iraq By Associated Press Much of the assistance will go to thousands of members of an Iraqi religious minority group known as Yazidis who have been trapped on a mountaintop in northwest Iraq to escape certain death by Sunni militants with the Islamic… Continue reading
Aug 11 U.S. begins sending arms to Kurdish forces in Iraq By Julie Pace, Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press The officials wouldn't say which U.S. agency is providing the arms or what weapons are being sent, but one official said it isn't the Pentagon. The CIA has historically done similar quiet arming operations. Continue reading
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Burns, Lara Jakes, Associated Press Obama insists he will not send American ground troops back to Iraq after having withdrawn them in 2011, fulfilling a campaign promise.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 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