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US air strikes to support Iraqi troops under attack First US strike under new IS plan
(35 minutes 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 US has carried out its first air strike against Islamic State (IS) militants under a new strategy to defeat the group.
The attacks took place on Sunday and Monday near Mount Sinjar and south-west of Baghdad. The US military said Monday's strike had destroyed an IS fighting position south-west of Baghdad that had been firing on Iraqi forces.
They were the first made as part of expanded efforts outlined by US President Barack Obama last week. It comes a week after US President Barack Obama outlined his new strategy to defeat the jihadist movement.
Meanwhile, Iraq has criticised the decision not to invite Iran to an international summit on the IS threat. The US has been building a broad international coalition to fight IS.
Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said the decision was "regrettable". The jihadist group, also known as Isil or Isis, originated in Syria and has swept through parts of western and northern Iraq. It now controls large areas of both countries.
Thirty countries pledged to join a US-led coalition against IS in Paris. The US statement said an IS position near Sinjar in the north had also been targeted on Sunday.
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. "US military forces continued to attack Isil terrorists in Iraq, employing attack and fighter aircraft to conduct two air strikes Sunday and Monday in support of Iraqi security forces near Sinjar and south-west of Baghdad," US Central Command said.
Obama decision "The air strike south-west of Baghdad was the first taken as part of our expanded efforts beyond protecting our own people and humanitarian missions to hit Isil targets as Iraqi forces go on offence, as outlined in the president's speech last Wednesday."
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. The US has conducted more than 160 airstrikes across Iraq since August.
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.
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.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. In another development, Iraq has criticised the decision not to invite Iran to Monday's Paris summit on the IS threat.
Speaking after the conference ended, Mr Jaafari said he regretted the absence of Iran. Thirty countries pledged to join a US-led coalition against IS at the talks.
Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said the decision not to include Iran was "regrettable".
"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 said he did not expect foreign ground troops to become involved in either Iraq or Syria.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.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.
France said on Monday it had begun surveillance flights over Iraq. Britain revealed in August that its aircraft had been gathering intelligence over Iraq.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 CIA estimates IS has between 20,000 and 31,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.