Islamic State War News Updates -- November 17, 2014

U.S. Targets Islamic Militants With More Airstrikes In Syria, Iraq: Central Command -- Reuters

(Reuters) - U.S. military forces conducted 11 air strikes against Islamic militants in Syria and 20 in Iraq since Friday, Central Command said on Monday.

Nine of the Syria strikes were near the Turkish border city of Kobani and destroyed seven Islamic State positions and four staging areas and struck one unit, the command said in a statement. Two near Dayr Az Zawr hit an Islamic State crude oil collection facility and destroyed a tank, it said

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Islamic State War News Updates -- November 17, 2014

Huge explosions rock Syrian town of Kobani on Turkish border -- The Independent
Explosions rock Kobani as ISIS fight escalates -- Mashable
Iraqi Forces Retake Country’s Largest Oil Refinery From ISIS -- Slate
Islamic State fighters are retreating from Baiji oil refinery, Iraq officials say -- Washington Post
ISIL militants behead additional 18 Syrians -- Al Bawaba
ISIS executes nearly 1,500 people in Syria in 5 months -- Al Arabiya
ISIS executes nearly 1,500 in Syria in 5 months: activists -- AFP
Child soldiers enlisted to fight against Islamic State in Syria -- Washington Post/USA Today
ISIS beheading, stoning and crucifying Syrian residents, UN report says -- FOX News
More barbaric ISIS videos expected after Kassig's death, analyst says -- CNN
ISIS takes aim at America’s unsavory ally, Saudi Arabia -- Hot Air
Kurdish official places ISIL estimate at 200,000 -- Al Bawaba
Islamic State militants reach 'at least' 200,000: Report -- Ahram Online
ISIS has 200,000-strong force, says Kurdish leader -- RT
CIA has hugely underestimated the number of Isis jihadis, who now rule an area the size of Britain -- Belfast telegraph
CIA intelligence gap hinders counter-terrorism efforts in Syria, Iraq -- L.A. Times
Would you Spend $333,000 an Hour to Fight ISIS? Actually, You Already Are -- AlGov
ISIS, in Video, Taunts Obama to Send in Ground Troops -- Newsmax
Obama rules out alliance with Syria’s Assad against ISIS -- Al Arabiya
For top U.S. general, a sober return to still-divided Iraq -- Reuters
Latest Islamic State horror masks a week of defeats -- Martin Chulov, The Guardian
Analysis: Islamic State snuff videos help to attract more followers -- Thomas Joscelyn,, Long War Journal
A Crucial Part Of America's ISIS Strategy Is In Shambles -- Jeremy Bender and Michael B Kelley, Business Insider