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| Iraq 'clears' IS from key dam area 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. | The jihadists have repeatedly tried to capture the dam on the River Euphrates, in the western province of Anbar. |
| The US air strikes were the first to have taken place outside northern Iraq. | The US air strikes were the first to have taken place outside northern Iraq. |
| Meanwhile, Iraq's parliament is scheduled to convene later on Monday to vote on Prime Minister-designate Haider al-Abadi's proposed government. | Meanwhile, Iraq's parliament is scheduled to convene later on Monday to vote on Prime Minister-designate Haider al-Abadi's proposed government. |
| The make-up of the cabinet has not been revealed, but Mr Abadi is expected to include representatives of all religious and ethnic factions. | The make-up of the cabinet has not been revealed, but Mr Abadi is expected to include representatives of all religious and ethnic factions. |
| The BBC's Jim Muir in Irbil says that should ease tensions between the Shia Arab majority and the Sunni Arab and Kurdish communities, which accused the outgoing administration of pursuing sectarian policies. | The BBC's Jim Muir in Irbil says that should ease tensions between the Shia Arab majority and the Sunni Arab and Kurdish communities, which accused the outgoing administration of pursuing sectarian policies. |
| It should also allow the US to step up its military assistance, which has been conditional on the formation of a unified and inclusive government. | It should also allow the US to step up its military assistance, which has been conditional on the formation of a unified and inclusive government. |
| 'Very accurate' | 'Very accurate' |
| 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. | 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," he told the Reuters news agency. | "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. However, the governor of Anbar, Ahmed al-Dulaimi, was wounded by an explosion shortly after Barwana was retaken. | 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 an explosion shortly after Barwana was retaken. |
| The US military said the strikes destroyed four Isis Humvees, four armed vehicles, two of which were carrying anti-aircraft guns, a fighting position, one command post and a defensive fighting position. | The US military said the strikes destroyed four Isis Humvees, four armed vehicles, two of which were carrying anti-aircraft guns, a fighting position, one command post and a defensive fighting position. |
| Analysis: Jim Muir, BBC News, northern Iraq | Analysis: Jim Muir, BBC News, northern Iraq |
| The American air attacks, the first of their kind in Anbar province, signal that Washington has crossed a line that it itself drew. | 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. | 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 soon - possibly on Monday. | That hasn't yet happened, though intensive efforts are under way to produce a new cabinet soon - possibly on Monday. |
| 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. | 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. | In August they took the country's largest dam, at Mosul, but US air strikes helped force them out later that month. |
| On Wednesday, US President Barack Obama will reveal his strategy to combat IS, which has announced the creation of a "caliphate", or Islamic state, in the large swathes of Iraq and Syria under its control. | On Wednesday, US President Barack Obama will reveal his strategy to combat IS, which has announced the creation of a "caliphate", or Islamic state, in the large swathes of Iraq and Syria under its control. |
| US media on Obama's "game plan" | |
| Wall Street Journal: Mr Obama's address on Wednesday comes at a symbolic moment, on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks and as the country is grappling with the beheadings of two Americans by Islamic State. | |
| Politico: The president's speech on [IS] will be a chance for him to clarify his plans for fighting the terrorist group after conflicting messages from the administration, including his "we don't have a strategy yet" comments late last month. | |
| New York Times: The final, toughest and most politically controversial phase of the operation - destroying the terrorist army in its sanctuary inside Syria - might not be completed until the next administration. Indeed, some Pentagon planners envision a military campaign lasting at least 36 months. | |
| Los Angeles Times: Congressional leaders have said they want Congress to be consulted, but they have not committed to a vote. And though some members of Congress have said they believe that they should go on record concerning military action, others are reluctant to do so with an election coming in less than two months. | |
| "What I want people to understand is that over the course of months, we are going to be able to not just blunt the momentum of [IS]," he told NBC TV on Sunday. "We are going to systematically degrade their capabilities; we're going to shrink the territory that they control; and, ultimately, we're going to defeat them." | "What I want people to understand is that over the course of months, we are going to be able to not just blunt the momentum of [IS]," he told NBC TV on Sunday. "We are going to systematically degrade their capabilities; we're going to shrink the territory that they control; and, ultimately, we're going to defeat them." |
| But he stressed that there was "not going to be an announcement about US ground troops". | But he stressed that there was "not going to be an announcement about US ground troops". |
| The secretary general of the Arab League meanwhile urged its members to confront Islamic State on all possible levels. | The secretary general of the Arab League meanwhile urged its members to confront Islamic State on all possible levels. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Are you in the area around the Haditha Dam? Did you witness events in the area? Email your experiences to Haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area around the Haditha Dam? Did you witness events in the area? Email your experiences to Haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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