US confirms fresh strikes near key Iraq dam

US confirms fresh strikes near key Iraq dam

WASHINGTON - US warplanes and drones pummeled Islamic State (IS) militants near Iraq's largest dam for a second straight day on Sunday, the Pentagon confirmed in a statement.

US Central Command said fighter jets, bombers and remotely piloted aircraft carried out 14 strikes on Sunday near the Mosul Dam.

The latest action came as Kurdish fighters battled to retake the strategically important dam from Islamist fighters.

Sunday's strikes destroyed 10 IS armed vehicles, seven IS Humvees, two armored personnel carriers and one IS checkpoint.

The latest military action followed nine US strikes near Arbil and Mosul dam on Saturday.

Islamic State fighters wrested control of the dam from Kurdish authorities a week ago.

The dam on the Tigris provides electricity to much of the region and is crucial to irrigation in vast farming areas in Nineveh province.

The recapture of the facility would be one of the most significant achievements in a fightback against Islamic State militants that is also getting international material support.

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