This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/iraqi-commanders-expect-widening-us-airstrikes-against-islamic-state-positions/2014/09/16/ff2e7ed8-3d93-11e4-9587-5dafd96295f0_story.html?wprss=rss_world

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Iraqi commanders expect widening U.S. airstrikes against Islamic State positions Iraqi commanders expect widening U.S. airstrikes against Islamic State positions
(about 2 hours later)
BAGHDAD – Iraqi officials said Tuesday they expect more U.S. airstrikes near Baghdad in the coming days as the United States stepped up its campaign against Islamic State militants. BAGHDAD — Iraqi officials said Tuesday they expect more U.S. airstrikes near Baghdad in the coming days as the United States steps up its campaign against Islamic State militants.
The United States carried out two airstrikes Sunday and Monday in support of Iraqi forces, U.S. central command said. One, southwest of Baghdad, signaled a widening area for the U.S. attacks, which have concentrated on Islamic State strongholds in northern Iraq.The United States carried out two airstrikes Sunday and Monday in support of Iraqi forces, U.S. central command said. One, southwest of Baghdad, signaled a widening area for the U.S. attacks, which have concentrated on Islamic State strongholds in northern Iraq.
The strikes coincided with a gathering of Western and Middle Eastern nations in Paris seeking to coordinate a broader strategy against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The United States seeks to bring other nations into the air campaign.The strikes coincided with a gathering of Western and Middle Eastern nations in Paris seeking to coordinate a broader strategy against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The United States seeks to bring other nations into the air campaign.
The United States coordinated the latest airstrikes with Baghdad Operations Command, which oversees security in the capital, its spokesman, Brig. Gen. Saad Maan, said in a televised press conference. The United States had held off increasing military assistance to Baghdad until a new broad-based government was formed, but Iraqi politicians are still wrangling over who should hold the key positions of ministers of defense and interior. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s candidates for the posts were rejected by parliament on Tuesday.
The United States coordinated Monday’s airstrikes with Baghdad Operations Command, which oversees security in the capital, its spokesman, Brig. Gen. Saad Maan, said in a televised press conference.
“We selected the target,” he said. “There will be more targets in the future in the Baghdad belt.”“We selected the target,” he said. “There will be more targets in the future in the Baghdad belt.”
The strike hit Islamic State fighters near Sadr al-Yusufiyah, about 15 miles south of Baghdad, Iraqi military spokesman Lt. Gen. Qassim Atta told the Agence France Presse news agency. The area lies between the militant stronghold of Fallujah to the west and Jurf al-Sukkar, a flashpoint area south of Baghdad.The strike hit Islamic State fighters near Sadr al-Yusufiyah, about 15 miles south of Baghdad, Iraqi military spokesman Lt. Gen. Qassim Atta told the Agence France Presse news agency. The area lies between the militant stronghold of Fallujah to the west and Jurf al-Sukkar, a flashpoint area south of Baghdad.
The attack targeted a position used to fire on Iraqi security forces, U.S. central command said. All aircraft exited the strike areas safely, it said.The attack targeted a position used to fire on Iraqi security forces, U.S. central command said. All aircraft exited the strike areas safely, it said.
The United States had held off increasing military assistance to Baghdad until a new government was formed trying to give more balance between the country’s majority Shiites and Sunnis. Abadi had pledged to fill defense and interior ministry posts, and four other ministries left open when the government was formed a week ago, by Tuesday. However, there has been fierce debate as to who should steer the security posts as Iraq is wracked by violence.
Shiite politician Riyad Ghareeb, a former minister of public works, failed to gain backing of the necessary majority of lawmakers in a vote on Tuesday.
The prime minister had pushed back against calls for former transport minister Hadi al-Ameri, who heads the Badr Brigades, a Shiite militia, to be given the role. The group’s political wing holds 20 seats in parliament and had threatened to withdraw from government if it was not allowed to field its candidate for the position.
Addressing parliament Abadi said numerous names had been fielded over the past week. “There were so many different points of views,” he said. “Some blocs thought these positions should be for them, others said it should be strong independent people. This I support.”
He urged parliamentarians to back the candidates. “Now the situation is more challenging than a week ago and in another week it will be harder and another week will be harder,” he said. “We can’t underestimate our enemy.”
Abadi’s pick for defense minister, Sunni politician Jaber al-Jaberi, was also rejected. Parliamentarians complained that they had not been provided with information on the qualifications of the candidates.
Parliament will reconvene Thursday to vote on the positions again, according to Iraqi state television channel Iraqia.
Mustafa Salim contributed to this report.