This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-28825029

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Kurd forces 'advance' on Mosul dam Kurdish forces 'recapture part of Mosul dam'
(about 5 hours later)
Kurdish sources say their forces "are advancing" in an offensive to retake Mosul dam from the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group. Kurdish forces have recaptured the eastern part of the Mosul dam in Iraq from the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group, Kurdish officials say.
A joint operation involving both Kurdish forces and US air strikes has been under way since 05:00 local time (03:00 GMT), the sources said. They are making "good progress" but encountering "fierce resistance", according to the Kurdish authority in northern Iraq.
The strategic dam, which supplies water and electricity to northern Iraq, was seized by the militants on 7 August. A joint operation involving both Kurdish forces and US air strikes began on Sunday morning.
IS has seized a swathe of territory in Iraq and Syria, displacing millions. In its latest strikes, the US said it destroyed 19 IS vehicles.
The reported US strikes followed nine conducted on Saturday against IS targets near the dam and the city of Irbil. The strategically important dam was seized by the militants on 7 August.
Altogether 14 vehicles manned by IS militants were hit, including armour left behind by the US forces when they left Iraq three years ago, but later seized by the militants. It supplies water and electricity to northern Iraq and there had been fears the IS militants could use it to flood areas downstream.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Irbil, in Iraqi Kurdistan, says there is a hope that the militants may be induced to leave the dam by the threat of extreme force. IS has seized a swathe of territory in recent months in Iraq and Syria, displacing millions.
The dam is seen as a vital target, not least because a breach of it could cause a disaster, sending a 20m high wall of water into the city of Mosul and on towards Baghdad, our correspondent adds. 'Suicide bombers'
Senior Kurdish official, Hoshyar Zebari, told the BBC the Peshmerga were "encountering fierce resistance, bombs on the roadside, suicide bombers and so on.
"But really, the Peshmerga forces are pushing and taking the fight to them to clear the dam".
He said the next objective was to clear the Nineveh plain "to ensure the return of minorities".
Thousands of Christians and Yazidis have fled their homes there in the face of the IS advance.
Other Kurdish officials said that half the Mosul dam was now in the hands of Peshmerga forces.
The US military said it conducted 14 air strikes in the Mosul dam area on Sunday. Along with the military vehicles, a checkpoint was hit.
The US carried out nine air strikes on Saturday.
IS 'beheadings'IS 'beheadings'
Meanwhile UK Prime Minister David Cameron, writing in the UK's Sunday Telegraph newspaper, said a "firm security response" was needed to deal with IS, involving "aid, diplomacy and our military prowess".Meanwhile UK Prime Minister David Cameron, writing in the UK's Sunday Telegraph newspaper, said a "firm security response" was needed to deal with IS, involving "aid, diplomacy and our military prowess".
The UK, Germany and other countries are currently delivering humanitarian aid for refugees in the north.The UK, Germany and other countries are currently delivering humanitarian aid for refugees in the north.
The offensive at the dam comes amid reports of massacres by IS militants.The offensive at the dam comes amid reports of massacres by IS militants.
At least 80 members of the Yazidi religious minority, who are ethnic Kurds, are believed to have been killed for refusing to convert to Islam in the village of Kawju. Women and children in the same village were reportedly abducted. At least 80 Yazidis, who are ethnic Kurds, are believed to have been killed for refusing to convert to Islam in the village of Kawju. Women and children in the same village were reportedly abducted.
A Yazidi refugee from a different village, Moujamma Jazira, told AFP news agency that people there had also been massacred, after trying in vain to fight back.A Yazidi refugee from a different village, Moujamma Jazira, told AFP news agency that people there had also been massacred, after trying in vain to fight back.
Dakhil Atto Solo said that 300 men had been executed in his village. The report could not be verified independently.Dakhil Atto Solo said that 300 men had been executed in his village. The report could not be verified independently.
IS is also accused of killing 700 tribesmen opposing them in Syria's Deir Ezzor province, over a two-week period.IS is also accused of killing 700 tribesmen opposing them in Syria's Deir Ezzor province, over a two-week period.
"Reliable sources" reported that many of the tribesmen had been beheaded, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said."Reliable sources" reported that many of the tribesmen had been beheaded, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
In Western cities on Saturday, demonstrators marched in support of Iraq's minorities - Yazidis, Christians and others.In Western cities on Saturday, demonstrators marched in support of Iraq's minorities - Yazidis, Christians and others.
IS, previously called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis), was formed in April 2013, growing out of al-Qaeda in Iraq.IS, previously called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis), was formed in April 2013, growing out of al-Qaeda in Iraq.
It has seized large parts of Syria during the ongoing civil war there, and now occupies much of northern Iraq too.It has seized large parts of Syria during the ongoing civil war there, and now occupies much of northern Iraq too.
Pursuing an extreme form of Sunni Islam, it has persecuted non-Muslims and Shia Muslims, whom it regards as heretics.Pursuing an extreme form of Sunni Islam, it has persecuted non-Muslims and Shia Muslims, whom it regards as heretics.