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Iraq crisis: Military claims control of Mosul dam Iraq crisis: Military claims control of Mosul dam
(35 minutes later)
There are conflicting reports about whether Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and Iraqi troops have fully retaken Mosul dam from Islamic State (IS) militants.There are conflicting reports about whether Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and Iraqi troops have fully retaken Mosul dam from Islamic State (IS) militants.
Iraqi military spokesman Lt-Gen Qassim Atta told state TV the dam - Iraq's largest - had been "fully cleansed".Iraqi military spokesman Lt-Gen Qassim Atta told state TV the dam - Iraq's largest - had been "fully cleansed".
Troops had been backed by a joint air patrol, he added. The US military said it had conducted air strikes.Troops had been backed by a joint air patrol, he added. The US military said it had conducted air strikes.
However, journalists in the area said fighting was continuing and jihadists remained in control of the main gate.However, journalists in the area said fighting was continuing and jihadists remained in control of the main gate.
An Islamic State statement also contradicted the military's claim, saying it had repelled Kurdish fighters and inflicted heavy losses.An Islamic State statement also contradicted the military's claim, saying it had repelled Kurdish fighters and inflicted heavy losses.
At the scene: Paul Wood, BBC News, near the Mosul DamAt the scene: Paul Wood, BBC News, near the Mosul Dam
On the lake behind me, we have seen planes going over, explosions and plumes of smoke. Clearly there are still air strikes going on and this is a very large area, some of which is contested. We drove towards the dam, following a path cleared by the Kurdish forces. Until a few days ago, the road, and the villages either side were in the hands of Islamic State. There were several burnt-out vehicles and blackened buildings, evidence of the fighting, and that the jihadists did not leave easily.
Earlier this morning we did go 10 miles down the road to the last Kurdish forces position. That was a Grad multiple-launch rocket system firing at what they said were IS positions, another two miles down the road, and they pointed out a village that was in flames that had been set alight, they said, by the jihadists as they were retreating. We reached a Kurdish forward artillery position. The jihadists were just two miles (3km) away from the battery, the soldiers said. They fired a Grad rocket launcher to push them back still further.
The Kurdish forces there seemed fairly relaxed - they had secured that position, the jihadis were running out of ammunition and they were retreating. Almost as soon as we'd had that explanation, there were two incoming mortar shells. We packed up as soon as we could and left. A plume of smoke of the horizon was a village burning, set alight by the jihadists as they retreated, a Kurdish special forces officer told me. He was confident they had Islamic State was on the run. Shortly after he told us this, a mortar shell came in, landing about 50m (160ft) away in the soft earth.
What we have seen is evidence of a battle taking place over a very long and ragged front line. "Don't worry, they're running out of ammunition," said the officer. Five minutes later, another round landed. We decided to leave.
Still, the Kurds are making progress - assisted by American air power overhead. The recapture of the dam - when finally confirmed - would be the most significant victory yet in the battle against Islamic State. The fight for the city of Mosul itself will, of course, be much, much harder. And the Mosul dam is just one of many battlefronts against Islamic State throughout Iraq.
US support 'limited'US support 'limited'
The dam, captured by IS on 7 August, is of huge strategic significance.The dam, captured by IS on 7 August, is of huge strategic significance.
Located on the River Tigris about 50km (30 miles) upstream from the city of Mosul, it controls the water and power supply to a large surrounding area in northern Iraq.Located on the River Tigris about 50km (30 miles) upstream from the city of Mosul, it controls the water and power supply to a large surrounding area in northern Iraq.
Earlier, Kurdish officials said the Peshmerga had recaptured most of the area around the dam, but still had more to do to achieve full control.Earlier, Kurdish officials said the Peshmerga had recaptured most of the area around the dam, but still had more to do to achieve full control.
They said IS fighters had put up stiff resistance, and had planted many roadside bombs and other explosive devices, which their special forces were now trying to clear as they moved through the complex.They said IS fighters had put up stiff resistance, and had planted many roadside bombs and other explosive devices, which their special forces were now trying to clear as they moved through the complex.
The BBC's Paul Wood, who is just behind the front line, says reports that the Kurds have taken the dam complex may be true, but the battle is still continuing over a very wide area.The BBC's Paul Wood, who is just behind the front line, says reports that the Kurds have taken the dam complex may be true, but the battle is still continuing over a very wide area.
In support of the Peshmerga operation, US bombers, fighter jets and unmanned drones carried out a total of 25 air strikes over the weekend, hitting more than 30 IS vehicles and a checkpoint, the Pentagon said.In support of the Peshmerga operation, US bombers, fighter jets and unmanned drones carried out a total of 25 air strikes over the weekend, hitting more than 30 IS vehicles and a checkpoint, the Pentagon said.
On Monday it said more air strikes had been carried out involving fighter jets, bombers and drones near the dam. On Monday the US military said 15 more air strikes had been carried out involving fighter jets, bombers and drones targeting IS positions and vehicles near the dam.
The US government has said its deployment of air power in support of the Kurdish forces will be "limited in scope and duration".The US government has said its deployment of air power in support of the Kurdish forces will be "limited in scope and duration".
In a letter to Congress on Sunday, the White House stressed the vital nature of the Mosul dam, saying that if it were breached it could cause massive loss of civilian life, and even threaten the US embassy in Baghdad.In a letter to Congress on Sunday, the White House stressed the vital nature of the Mosul dam, saying that if it were breached it could cause massive loss of civilian life, and even threaten the US embassy in Baghdad.
On Monday, the UK said its mission in Iraq would be stepped up to go beyond the provision of humanitarian aid.On Monday, the UK said its mission in Iraq would be stepped up to go beyond the provision of humanitarian aid.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the mission could last for months and now involved the transport of ammunition and weapons from third countries to the Peshmerga.Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the mission could last for months and now involved the transport of ammunition and weapons from third countries to the Peshmerga.
Mr Fallon also said British warplanes were flying deeper into Iraq, to gather intelligence about IS positions.Mr Fallon also said British warplanes were flying deeper into Iraq, to gather intelligence about IS positions.
The BBC's Jim Muir, who is in the northern city of Irbil, says Kurdish forces are planning to advance eastwards from the Mosul Dam to the plains of Nineveh and westwards towards Sinjar.The BBC's Jim Muir, who is in the northern city of Irbil, says Kurdish forces are planning to advance eastwards from the Mosul Dam to the plains of Nineveh and westwards towards Sinjar.
Thousands of members of the Yazidi religious minority were forced to flee Sinjar when jihadists overran the town two weeks ago, prompting an international aid operation and helping to trigger the US air strikes.Thousands of members of the Yazidi religious minority were forced to flee Sinjar when jihadists overran the town two weeks ago, prompting an international aid operation and helping to trigger the US air strikes.
Are you near Mosul or the River Tigris? Has the recent violence affected you? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you near Mosul or the River Tigris? Has the recent violence affected you? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.