U.S. fighter jets launched airstrikes early Saturday against Islamic State (Daash) militants in and around the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, UPI reported. Kurdish media reported that American jets targeted IS position near Iraq's largest dam -- the Mosul Dam -- which was seized by IS on August 7, striking in Rabia Crossing, Mahmoudia, Telskouf, Zumar and Tilkef. According to Rudaw, once the bombings cease, "Kurdish Peshmerga forces are expected to launch a ground assault to retake areas lost to the IS earlier this month including the Yezidi town of Shingal." The Mosul dam is located on the Tigris River 30 miles northwest of Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, which has been under IS control since its capture on June 10. The U.S. and Kurdish Peshmerga are coordinating military efforts to repel the IS push toward Kurdish territory and the Kurdish capital of Erbil, where the U.S. has a consulate.
