US airstrikes in Iraq expand to Kirkuk area

CENTCOM has expanded its air campaign against the Islamic State today, launching four airstrikes against the jihadist group in the Kirkuk region of Iraq. From CENTCOM’s press release on today’s airstrikes:

US military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Iraq today, using a mix of attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct four airstrikes near the city of Kirkuk.

In total, the airstrikes destroyed two ISIL vehicles, an ISIL tank, and damaged an ISIL Humvee, all west-southwest of Kirkuk. All aircraft exited the strike areas safely.

The strikes were conducted as part of the President’s comprehensive strategy to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL.

US Central Command has conducted a total of 190 airstrikes across Iraq.

US warplanes are now operating over Irbil, Sinjar, the Mosul and Haditha dams, southwest of Baghdad (likely in Jurf al Sakhar in northern Babil), and somewhere on the Euphrates River.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

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Iraq

Islamic state

Syria

Aqap

Al shabaab

Boko Haram

Isis