As radical Sunni militants snatch city after city in their march to Baghdad, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Iraq on Monday during the country's tensest time since the U.S. Withdrawal of troops. Ref. CNN
Secretary of State John Kerry says while he is "Not taking anything I hear to the bank," He has received indications from Iraq's leaders that "There is a capacity to have a new government that could be a unity government that could reflect a greater capacity for success."
Kerry sat down for an interview Tuesday with CNN's Jim Sciutto in Irbil, Iraq, shortly after meeting with Iraqi Kurdish President Massoud Barzani. Barzani said there was a "New reality" In Iraq as he met with Kerry. A day earlier Barzani told CNN, "Iraq is obviously falling apart."
Kerry told Sciutto that Barzani "Made it clear that he wants to participate in the process, that he wants to help choose the next government." Ref. CNN
Iraq insurgents seize oilfields, hit air base as U.S. Advisers arrive:
Militants attacked one of Iraq's largest air bases and seized control of several small oilfields on Wednesday as U.S. Special forces troops and intelligence analysts arrived to "help" Iraqi security forces counter a mounting Sunni insurgency. Ref. Source 6
Iraq's Sadr Vows to 'Shake the Ground' against Militants:
Sadr, whose movement battled U.S. Forces in Iraq, also voiced opposition to American military advisers meeting with Iraqi commanders combating an offensive that has overrun swathes of five provinces, killed more than 1,100 people, displaced hundreds of thousands and threatens to tear the country apart. Ref. Source 3
Over 50 ISIL militants killed in N.Iraq in past 24 hrs: Gov report:
Over 50 militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) were killed by Iraqi security forces in separate areas at Saladin province, north of the Iraqi capital, amid increasing military and air strikes against ISIL groups, Ref. Source 5
Nearly 2,000 Killed As US Bolsters Iraq Forces:
The latest deployment will mean nearly 800 US soldiers have returned to Iraq to help train local forces, protect the embassy in Baghdad and protect Americans as Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighters continue to control much of the north and west of the country. Ref. Source 8
Pentagon says growing US forces in Iraq need 'flexibility' for mission:
Unofficially, the Pentagon is indicating that the number of troops in Iraq is likely to continue the incremental expansion that President Barack Obama launched last month after Islamic State forces overran Sunni areas of the country. Ref. Source 2