US expands offensive against Islamic State MP
The US conducted its first airstrikes in support of Iraqi troops on Monday, as promised by President Barack Obama.
The offensive marks the first expansion of the US’s campaign against the Islamist militant group.
The strike took place shortly after Monday’s world powers meeting, which gave public support for military action against Islamic state fighters in Iraq.
During the meeting, foreign ministers from 29 countries pledged to use "whatever means necessary" to assist the Iraqi government in its fight against Islamic State (IS). In recent weeks, tensions between IS forces and the West heightened following the execution of two American journalists and a British aid worker.
President Obama’s pledge to destroy IS forces on both sides of the Iraqi-Syrian border compelled nations to form a coalition against the terrorist group. But, despite the coalition acting in the best interests of IS’s enemies, some countries are less cooperative than others.
Iranian representatives did not attend the meeting in Paris on Monday, after Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, rejected an offer from the States to discuss the coalition against IS.
According to quotes carried by Islamic Republic News Agency, the supreme leader stated that he saw “no point in cooperating with a country whose hands are dirty and intentions are murky”.
Iraqi foreign minister, Ibrahim al-Jaafi, stated that Iran’s decision was “regrettable”.
Many hope that the newly established government in Iraq will unite the country’s diverse communities. Government positions are now held by a broader representation from both minority Sunni and Kurdish backgrounds.
The fight against IS forces in Syria, however, poses a more complicated threat for the coalition. Following three years of civil war, Islamic State has become one of the most powerful Sunni groups rebelling against President Assad’s current regime.
As Washington and its allies remain hostile to Assad, US house representatives will begin debating legislation on Tuesday to give approval for arming and training rebels who oppose both IS militants and Syria’s government.
A Russian foreign minister has criticised the US president’s agenda for involving personal political projects in prioritising support of anti-government rebels. The minister stated that supporting Syrian rebels will undermine the overarching global fight against terrorism.