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US air strikes to support Iraqi troops under attack | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The US has carried out air strikes in Iraq in support of troops who were being attacked by Islamic State (IS) fighters, the US military has said. | |
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. | 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". | 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. | 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 | Obama decision |
The US military statement said that the air strike 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 had been in support of Iraqi 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 left the strike areas safely. | |
The US has conducted a total of 162 airstrikes across Iraq since August. | 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. | Officials say the latest strikes reflect the recent decision by President Obama to attack IS positions wherever they are. |
Previous US air strikes in Iraq were carried out to protect US interests and personnel, help Iraqi refugees and secure infrastructure. | |
Monday's talks in Paris had been called to agree a strategy to combat IS. The CIA estimates the group has between 20,000 and 31,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria. | |
Speaking after the conference ended, Mr Jaafari said he regretted the absence of Iran. | |
"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 said he did not expect foreign ground troops to become involved in either Iraq or Syria. | |
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". | |
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. |
France said on Monday 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). | The militant group's former name was Isis and it has also been known as Isil (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant). |