US conducts airstrikes against ISIL near Mosul Dam

WASHINGTON, Aug 21 (KUNA) -- The US military launched six airstrikes against the positions of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) near the Mosul Dam, north Iraq, on Thursday in support of Iraqi security forces.
"The strikes destroyed or damaged three ISIL Humvees, one ISIL vehicle,and multiple IED emplacements. All aircraft exited the strike area safely," according to a statement from US Central Command (CENTCOM).
In a speech yesterday President Barack Obama pressed for a common effort to extract "this cancer," referring to as ISIL after the group released a video of the beheading of the American journalist Jim Foley.
The US noted that these airstrikes were conducted under "authority to support Iraqi security forces and Kurdish defense force operations, as well as to protect critical infrastructure, U.S. personnel and facilities, and support humanitarian efforts." Since August 8, the US has conducted 90 airstrikes, including 57 strikes near Mosul Dam. (end) ak.gb