The Turkish parliament today voted 298-98 to authorize military force against ISIS fighters in Syria and Iraq.
Turkey, a NATO member, had declined to join a U.S.-led coalition, offering only tacit support to some 40 nations that make up the group going after ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
But that changed in recent days, with ISIS on its doorstep, tens of thousands fleeing across its border and reports that the tomb of the grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman Empire has been surrounded. Ref. CNN
How Islamic State Uses Oil To Fund Its Onslaught:
In a remote area along the Turkish-Syrian border, a line of oil trucks materializes seemingly from nowhere. Quietly, the vehicles line up to purchase oil. The drivers will pay about $18 a barrel, well below the average market price of $93.45. Ref. Source 2
Islamic State reportedly on Baghdad's outskirts after week of victories:
Islamic State militants have taken control of key cities in Iraq's western province of Anbar and have begun to besiege one of the country's largest military bases in a weeklong offensive that's brought them within artillery range of Baghdad. Ref. Source 2
ISIS executes Iraqi soldiers captured northwest of Samarra:
"The elements of ISIS collected a number of shopkeepers and displaced persons in the area of Al Alam at gunpoint. They executed a number of Iraqi soldiers, who were captured during the clashes that took place in the area of the Wall Ochnas north west of Samarra last night, in front of them. " Ref. Source 2
53 IS militants killed in strikes north of Baghdad:
At least 53 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed Friday in multiple operations by Iraqi warplanes in the al-Doloue'ia region, 90 km north of Baghdad, a security source told Spanish news agency Efe. Ref. Source 5