WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon says Iraq's air force has gone after the Islamic State group for the first time using F-16 fighter planes bought from the U.S.
Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook commended Iraq for what he called "its successful use of this cutting edge aircraft" in the campaign to degrade and defeat the group...
The Pentagon says the militants were using the artillery to shell Kurdish forces defending Irbil, the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, and home to a U.S. consulate and about three dozen U.S. military trainers.
Obama says he won't allow the U.S. to be dragged into another war in Iraq. But he says the U.S. will protect Americans and prevent terrorists from having a safe haven.
A day after President Barack Obama authorized airstrikes and humanitarian aid in northern Iraq, the military says it has the assets and resources in place to launch strikes by manned and unmanned aircraft based in the region.
Administration officials have said airstrikes have become less a focus of recent deliberations but have also said the president could order such a step if intelligence agencies can identify clear targets on the ground.
U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy said "we need to know more" about the ongoing scandal plaguing the Veterans Administration, "but what is apparent is that the Veterans Administration--at least some V.A. facilities--are poorly serving those whom they should serve."