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US airstrikes to support Iraqi troops under attack | |
(33 minutes later) | |
The US has carried out airstrikes in Iraq in support of troops who were being attacked by Islamic State (IS) fighters, the US military has said. | |
It said that the attacks took place on Sunday and Monday near Mount Sinjar and south-west of Baghdad. | |
They were the first made as part of expanded efforts outlined by US President Barack Obama last week. | |
Meanwhile Iraq has criticised the decision not to invite Iran to an international summit on the IS threat. | |
Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said the decision was "regrettable". | |
Thirty countries pledged to join a US-led coalition against IS in Paris. | Thirty countries pledged to join a US-led coalition against IS in Paris. |
The militant group, which originated in Syria, has swept through parts of western and northern Iraq in recent months and now controls large areas of both countries. | |
Obama decision | |
The US military statement said that the airstrike south-west of Baghdad was the first taken as part of "expanded efforts beyond protecting our own people and humanitarian missions to hit [IS] targets" as Iraqi forces go on the offensive. | |
It said that the strikes were in support of the troops, adding that six IS vehicles were destroyed near Sinjar, and a militant fighting position south-west of Baghdad. | |
The statement said that all aircraft exited the strike areas safely. | |
The US has conducted a total of 162 airstrikes across Iraq since August. | |
Officials say the latest strikes reflect the recent decision by President Obama to attack IS positions wherever they are. | |
Previous US airstrikes in Iraq were carried out to protect American interests and personnel, help Iraqi refugees and secure infrastructure. | |
Monday's talks in Paris had been called to agree a strategy to combat IS, which the CIA estimates to have between 20,000 and 31,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria. | |
Speaking after the conference ended, Mr Jaafari said that he regretted the absence of Iran. | Speaking after the conference ended, Mr Jaafari said that he regretted the absence of Iran. |
"We believe that all world countries are concerned about the danger of terrorism" he said. | "We believe that all world countries are concerned about the danger of terrorism" he said. |
"Iran is our neighbour, it assisted us and it should have been present, but we are not the party responsible for inviting parties," he added. | "Iran is our neighbour, it assisted us and it should have been present, but we are not the party responsible for inviting parties," he added. |
He went on to say that he does not expect foreign ground troops to become militarily involved in either Iraq or Syria. | He went on to say that he does not expect foreign ground troops to become militarily involved in either Iraq or Syria. |
Together, Iran and Syria share most of Iraq's borders, but relations between them and the US are fraught. | |
Last week US Secretary of State John Kerry ruled out co-operation with Iran, citing its "engagement in Syria and elsewhere". | Last week US Secretary of State John Kerry ruled out co-operation with Iran, citing its "engagement in Syria and elsewhere". |
But Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday that the US had requested Iran's co-operation via the US ambassador to Iraq. | But Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday that the US had requested Iran's co-operation via the US ambassador to Iraq. |
"I said no, because they have dirty hands," he said. He added the US was seeking a "pretext to do in Iraq and Syria what it already does in Pakistan - bomb anywhere without authorisation". | "I said no, because they have dirty hands," he said. He added the US was seeking a "pretext to do in Iraq and Syria what it already does in Pakistan - bomb anywhere without authorisation". |
Syria also did not take part in the Paris gathering. | Syria also did not take part in the Paris gathering. |
Meanwhile, France said it had begun surveillance flights over Iraq. Britain revealed in August that its aircraft had been gathering intelligence over Iraq. | Meanwhile, France said it had begun surveillance flights over Iraq. Britain revealed in August that its aircraft had been gathering intelligence over Iraq. |
The militant group's former name was Isis and it has also been known as Isil (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant). | |
Analysis: Jeremy Bowen, BBC News, Damascus | Analysis: Jeremy Bowen, BBC News, Damascus |
Another layer of conflict is being grafted on to a series of parallel and overlapping wars in Syria and Iraq. | Another layer of conflict is being grafted on to a series of parallel and overlapping wars in Syria and Iraq. |
Enemies of the Syrian regime, including Saudi Arabia, will want to calculate how much their actions against Islamic State might strengthen President Bashar al-Assad - who has men tied up fighting IS. | Enemies of the Syrian regime, including Saudi Arabia, will want to calculate how much their actions against Islamic State might strengthen President Bashar al-Assad - who has men tied up fighting IS. |
Iran and Saudi Arabia, regional superpowers, back opposing sides in Syria. They will look very closely to see if American actions indirectly help their rival. | Iran and Saudi Arabia, regional superpowers, back opposing sides in Syria. They will look very closely to see if American actions indirectly help their rival. |
Some Islamist fighters in Syria who have been trained and armed by Saudi Arabia or Qatar have already gravitated to IS. Opposition to Western involvement might make more follow. | Some Islamist fighters in Syria who have been trained and armed by Saudi Arabia or Qatar have already gravitated to IS. Opposition to Western involvement might make more follow. |
And the US and its Western allies are becoming direct players in the wars in Syria and Iraq - and in the deepening sectarian conflict between Shia and Sunni Muslims. | And the US and its Western allies are becoming direct players in the wars in Syria and Iraq - and in the deepening sectarian conflict between Shia and Sunni Muslims. |
Many argue that the Americans and the British tore open sectarian scars when they invaded Iraq in 2003, and now risk making matters even worse. | Many argue that the Americans and the British tore open sectarian scars when they invaded Iraq in 2003, and now risk making matters even worse. |
Daunting task ahead for US-led coalition | Daunting task ahead for US-led coalition |
How will Obama's anti-IS coalition work? | How will Obama's anti-IS coalition work? |