US Launches New Strikes Against Islamic State in Iraq

World | September 7, 2014, Sunday // 13:35|  views

A convoy of Iraqi tanks arrive in Amerli town, north of Baghdad, Iraq, 03 September 2014. Photo by EPA/STR.

The US has launched a series of air strikes on Islamic State militants close to the vital Haditha dam in western Iraq, Sunday.

US officials said that while the Anbar Province dam remains in control of the Iraqis, the American offensive was an effort to beat back militants who have been trying to take over key dams across the country, including the Haditha complex.

ISIS has taken over large swathes of Iraq and Syria in recent months, declaring the land it holds a "caliphate", the BBC reminds.

US officials have expressed concerns that militants could flood Baghdad and other large swaths of the country if they gain control over the dams. It would also give the group control over electricity, which they could use to strengthen their control over residents.

The US has now carried out more than 130 air strikes since early August. The latest strikes saw a broadening of the US campaign against the Islamic State, moving the military operations closer to the border of Syria, where the group also has been operating.

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Tags: Iraq, Islamic state, air strikes, US, dams

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