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US Military Launches Airstrikes Against IS Near Irbil

A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter patrols near the town of Makhmur, Aug. 27, 2014.
1/6 A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter patrols near the town of Makhmur, Aug. 27, 2014.
Kurdish Peshmerga fighters rest at the Bakirta frontline near the town of Makhmur, Iraqi Kurdistan, Aug. 27, 2014.
2/6 Kurdish Peshmerga fighters rest at the Bakirta frontline near the town of Makhmur, Iraqi Kurdistan, Aug. 27, 2014.
Kurdish Peshmerga forces sweep the Bakirta village near the town of Makhmur, Iraqi Kurdistan, Aug. 27, 2014.
3/6 Kurdish Peshmerga forces sweep the Bakirta village near the town of Makhmur, Iraqi Kurdistan, Aug. 27, 2014.
Kurdish Peshmerga prepare to make a sweep after Islamic State (IS) insurgents withdrew from the Bakirta village near the town of Makhmur, south of Irbil, Aug. 27, 2014.
4/6 Kurdish Peshmerga prepare to make a sweep after Islamic State (IS) insurgents withdrew from the Bakirta village near the town of Makhmur, south of Irbil, Aug. 27, 2014.
Shi'ite volunteers, who have joined the Iraqi Army to fight against militants of the Islamic State, take part in field training in Kerbala, southwest of Baghdad, Aug. 26, 2014.
5/6 Shi'ite volunteers, who have joined the Iraqi Army to fight against militants of the Islamic State, take part in field training in Kerbala, southwest of Baghdad, Aug. 26, 2014.
Iraqi Kurdish regional President Masoud Barzani (right) shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Irbil, north of Baghdad, Aug. 26, 2014.
6/6 Iraqi Kurdish regional President Masoud Barzani (right) shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Irbil, north of Baghdad, Aug. 26, 2014.
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The U.S. military says it lauched further air attacks Wednesday against Islamic State militants near Irbil and the strategic Mosul Dam in Iraq.

The United States Central Command [CENTCOM] said in a statement that U.S. forces launched three airstrikes using fighter, attack, and remotely piloted aircraft to support Iraqi security force operations.

"The strikes were conducted under authority to support Iraqi security force and Kurdish defense force operations, as well as to protect critical infrastructure, U.S. personnel and facilities, and support humanitarian efforts," the statement said.

Mosul Dam
Mosul Dam

CENTCOM says the strikes destroyed an Islamic State Humvee, a supply truck, three armored vehicles, and also severely damaged a building used by the militants.

U.S. Central Command reports that since August 8, it has conducted a total of 101 airstrikes across Iraq.

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