Iraq formally called on the US to launch air strikes against ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) militants, who have captured several key cities over the past week.
Top US military commander Gen Martin Dempsey, in front of US senators, confirmed that they have received a request for air power from the Iraqi government, The BBC reported.
Government forces are fighting to push back ISIS militants and its Sunni Muslim allies in Diyala and Salahuddin provinces, after they overran the second city, Mosul, last week.
The White House said US President Barack Obama had gone through their efforts to strengthen Iraq’s security forces’ capacity to counter the threat from ISIS, which includes options for higher security assistance.
Ahead of the briefing, Senate leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, said that he was not in “support” of getting US troops involved in the Iraqi “civil war,” however, Gen Dempsey said that it was in the US’ national interest to counter ISIS. (ANI)