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Iraq secures area around key dam after US strikes Iraq 'clears' IS from key dam area after US strikes
(35 minutes later)
Iraqi government forces say they have cleared Islamic State (IS) militants from a wide area around the strategic Haditha dam, helped by US air strikes.Iraqi government forces say they have cleared Islamic State (IS) militants from a wide area around the strategic Haditha dam, helped by US air strikes.
The jihadists have repeatedly tried to capture the dam on the River Euphrates in the western province of Anbar from government troops and allied tribesmen.The jihadists have repeatedly tried to capture the dam on the River Euphrates in the western province of Anbar from government troops and allied tribesmen.
The action marked a widening of US military action which has previously been restricted to northern Iraq.The action marked a widening of US military action which has previously been restricted to northern Iraq.
On Wednesday, US President Barack Obama will reveal his strategy to defeat IS.On Wednesday, US President Barack Obama will reveal his strategy to defeat IS.
The group has announced the creation of a "caliphate", or Islamic state, in the large swathes of Iraq and Syria under its control.The group has announced the creation of a "caliphate", or Islamic state, in the large swathes of Iraq and Syria under its control.
'Very accurate''Very accurate'
The leader of a pro-Iraqi government Sunni Arab tribal militia in western Iraq said the air strikes around the Haditha dam had wiped out an IS patrol trying to attack the dam. The leader of a pro-Iraqi government Sunni Arab tribal militia in western Iraq, Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha, said the air strikes around the Haditha dam had wiped out an IS patrol trying to attack the dam.
"They were very accurate. There was no collateral damage. If Islamic State had gained control of the dam, many areas of Iraq would have been seriously threatened, even Baghdad," Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha told Reuters. "They were very accurate. There was no collateral damage. If Islamic State had gained control of the dam, many areas of Iraq would have been seriously threatened, even Baghdad," he told the Reuters news agency.
Iraqi forces then launched a drive against militants in the Haditha area and regained ground.Iraqi forces then launched a drive against militants in the Haditha area and regained ground.
"Joint forces backed by air support and tribesmen launched a wide attack to clear the areas surrounding the Haditha district," military spokesman Lt Gen Qassem Atta told the AFP news agency."Joint forces backed by air support and tribesmen launched a wide attack to clear the areas surrounding the Haditha district," military spokesman Lt Gen Qassem Atta told the AFP news agency.
Troops and militia also retook Barwana, east of Haditha, from IS fighters, who abandoned their weapons and vehicles while retreating, AFP reported. Troops and militia also retook Barwana, east of Haditha, from IS fighters, who abandoned their weapons and vehicles while retreating, AFP reported. However, the governor of Anbar, Ahmed al-Dulaimi, was wounded by a mortar round shortly after Barwana was retaken.
However, the governor of Anbar, Ahmed al-Dulaimi, was wounded by a mortar round shortly after Barwana was retaken. The US military said it carried out five strikes involving bomber and fighter aircraft. It said militants' armoured vehicles - some carrying anti-aircraft artillery - were destroyed. The US said all its aircraft left the area safely.
The US military said it carried out five strikes involving bomber and fighter aircraft. Analysis: Jim Muir, BBC News, northern Iraq
It said militants' armoured vehicles - some carrying anti-aircraft artillery - were destroyed. The US said all its aircraft left the area safely. The American air attacks, the first of their kind in Anbar province, signal that Washington has crossed a line that it itself drew.
It has long had a standing request from the outgoing Iraqi government to use its air power against IS in all areas. But until recently, it made it clear it would only do that once a new, inclusive government is formed in Baghdad, with full Sunni representation.
That hasn't yet happened, though intensive efforts are under way to produce a new cabinet in the coming days.
Haditha dam is Iraq's second biggest hydroelectric facility and also provides millions with water.Haditha dam is Iraq's second biggest hydroelectric facility and also provides millions with water.
The US has carried out more than 130 air strikes since early August to support Iraqi and Kurdish forces fighting IS in northern Iraq, but Sunday's strikes were the first in Anbar.The US has carried out more than 130 air strikes since early August to support Iraqi and Kurdish forces fighting IS in northern Iraq, but Sunday's strikes were the first in Anbar.
IS fighters have targeted a number of Iraqi dams since the start of the year, capturing the facility at Falluja in April.
In August they took the country's largest dam, at Mosul, but US air strikes helped force them out later that month.
'Nature of threat''Nature of threat'
President Obama, who has been criticised for failing to outline a strategy, told NBC TV that the US would weaken IS, shrink its territory and "defeat them". President Obama, who has been criticised for failing to outline a strategy, told NBC TV on Sunday that the US would weaken IS, shrink its territory and "defeat them".
He said the strategy was "not going to be an announcement about US ground troops".He said the strategy was "not going to be an announcement about US ground troops".
"This is not the equivalent of the Iraq war. This... is similar to the kinds of counterterrorism campaigns that we've been engaging in consistently over the last five, six, seven years."This is not the equivalent of the Iraq war. This... is similar to the kinds of counterterrorism campaigns that we've been engaging in consistently over the last five, six, seven years.
"I just want the American people to understand the nature of the threat and how we're going to deal with it and to have confidence that we'll be able to deal with it.""I just want the American people to understand the nature of the threat and how we're going to deal with it and to have confidence that we'll be able to deal with it."
He said the strategy would involve an international coalition. He said the strategy would involve an international coalition. So far, he has received offers of help from allies including the UK, France, Germany, Turkey and Poland.
Islamic State fighters have targeted a number of Iraqi dams since the start of the year, capturing the facility at Falluja in April. The secretary general of the Arab League meanwhile urged its members to confront Islamic State on all possible levels.
They later took the country's largest dam, at Mosul, but US air strikes helped force them out. What was required from member states was a "clear and firm decision for a comprehensive confrontation" with "cancerous and terrorist" groups, Nabil al-Arabi told a meeting of foreign ministers in Cairo.