Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• U.S. seeks answers over Russian strikes on Syrian rebels
• Russian defence chief, Assad coordinate on 'anti-terrorist fight'
• Iraqi forces open second front south of Islamic State-held Mosul
• 2nd Zumwalt-class destroyer christened in honor of Navy SEAL
• Pentagon voices 'strong concerns' to Russia over strikes on US-backed Syria rebels
• Iraq forces hunt IS in Fallujah and eye Mosul
• Killing threatens Britain's easy public access to lawmakers
• Turkish warplanes hit PKK targets in Turkey: sources
• Syria memo shakes up Washington but unlikely to shift policy
• Iraq says most of Fallujah retaken from IS militants

U.S. seeks answers over Russian strikes on Syrian rebels Posted: 18 Jun 2016 12:54 PM PDT The Pentagon said on Saturday it has questioned Moscow over air strikes against U.S.-backed Syrian opposition forces earlier this week, saying Russian forces failed to heed U.S. warnings to stop the attack. In a video call with Russian counterparts, the U.S. Department of Defense "expressed strong concerns" about the strikes that hit U.S.-backed Syrian rebels battling Islamic State near the al-Tanf border crossing with Iraq on Thursday, it said in a statement. According to the Pentagon, coalition-backed fighters in Syria were attacked in al-Tanf even though they were part of the "cessation of hostilities," an agreement aimed at creating a truce in the war-torn country.

Russian defence chief, Assad coordinate on 'anti-terrorist fight' Posted: 18 Jun 2016 11:58 AM PDT Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu met in Damascus on Saturday with President Bashar al-Assad to discuss anti-terrorist "cooperation" in Syria's conflict, a bone of contention between Moscow and Washington. Shoigu, the highest ranking Russian official to travel to Syria since the conflict erupted five years ago, was sent by President Vladimir Putin for the surprise meeting with Moscow's long-time ally Assad, the Syrian state news agency SANA said. "The talks focused on military cooperation between the two countries and joint action to fight against terrorist organisations on Syrian soil," it said.

Iraqi forces open second front south of Islamic State-held Mosul Posted: 18 Jun 2016 11:57 AM PDT By Ghazwan Hassan and Thaier al-Sudani TIKRIT/FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi forces opened a second front on Saturday in preparation for an assault on the Islamic State stronghold of Mosul, a day after government troops declared victory over the militants in Falluja. Elite counter-terrorism forces and two army divisions, backed by U.S.-led coalition air strikes, advanced from a northern refinery town towards an airfield seen as key for a move to retake Mosul, security officials said. Mosul is Iraq's largest northern city and Islamic State's de facto capital in the country.

2nd Zumwalt-class destroyer christened in honor of Navy SEAL Posted: 18 Jun 2016 11:50 AM PDT BATH, Maine (AP) — The mother of a fallen Navy SEAL christened the second Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyer Saturday in honor of her son, who died in Iraq when he threw himself on an insurgent's grenade to save the lives of two fellow SEALS.

Pentagon voices 'strong concerns' to Russia over strikes on US-backed Syria rebels Posted: 18 Jun 2016 11:08 AM PDT The Pentagon voiced "strong concerns" over Moscow's bombing of US-backed forces in southern Syria, a spokesman said on Saturday. US military officials holding a video conference with Russia "expressed strong concerns about the attack on the coalition-supported counter-ISIL forces at the Al-Tanaf garrison, which included forces that are participants in the cessation of hostilities in Syria," said Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook after the talks.

Iraq forces hunt IS in Fallujah and eye Mosul Posted: 18 Jun 2016 10:10 AM PDT Iraqi forces hunted down holdout jihadists in Fallujah Saturday after retaking the city centre and trained their sights on Mosul, the Islamic State's last remaining major hub in the country. While not fully under government control yet, Fallujah is the latest in a string of battlefield losses for IS, which has seen its two-year-old "caliphate" shrink significantly in recent months. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Friday declared Fallujah retaken after the national flag was raised over the main government compound, but IS fighters still hold most northern neighbourhoods.

Killing threatens Britain's easy public access to lawmakers Posted: 18 Jun 2016 09:38 AM PDT BIRSTALL, England (AP) — Frozen in time, Jo Cox's website advises the public in her native West Yorkshire to meet her and discuss how she might help them with daily problems. "No appointment is necessary, please just come along," the message says.

Turkish warplanes hit PKK targets in Turkey: sources Posted: 18 Jun 2016 03:25 AM PDT ISTANBUL (Reuters) - The Turkish military carried out airstrikes on Saturday in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir against 16 targets belonging to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), military sources said. Turkish forces hit shelters and ammunition and food storage facilities, the sources said. Turkey has been staging regular air strikes against positions of the PKK in mountainous northern Iraq, where it has camps near the Turkish border, and in southeast Turkey since July 2015 after the militants' abandoned a ceasefire. ...

Syria memo shakes up Washington but unlikely to shift policy Posted: 17 Jun 2016 11:32 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — State Department officials shook up America's generally obedient diplomatic establishment this week with an internal memo urging U.S. military action against Syria's government with the goal of pressing President Bashar Assad to accept a cease-fire and gaining the upper hand on him in future talks on a political transition.

Iraq says most of Fallujah retaken from IS militants Posted: 17 Jun 2016 11:46 AM PDT BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi special forces swept into Fallujah on Friday, recapturing most of the city as the Islamic State group's grip crumbled after weeks of fighting. Thousands of trapped residents took advantage of the militants' retreat to flee, some swimming across the Euphrates River to safety.

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