The War Against The Islamic State Intensifies In Both Iraq And Syria

Reuters: Islamic State faces battle in Iraq, bombs in Syria

Islamic State poured more fighters into Ramadi as security forces and Shi'ite paramilitaries prepared to retake the Iraqi city that fell to the Islamists a week ago in a major setback for the government.

In Palmyra, the Syrian air force struck at buildings captured by the Sunni militant group, whose arrival has raised fears that the city's famed Roman ruins will be destroyed.

The air force leveled Islamic State "hideouts" and killed a large number of its members around Palmyra's military air base, Syrian state media said.

Islamic State has killed at least 217 people execution-style, including children, since it moved into the Palmyra area 10 days ago, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Another 300 soldiers were killed before the Syrian city was captured, the monitoring group said.

More News On The War Against The Islamic State

U.S., allies conduct 35 air strikes against Islamic State in Syria, Iraq -- Reuters
With Victories, ISIS Dispels Hope of a Swift Decline -- NYT
Reports of Syrian airstrikes on 'Islamic State' in Palmyra -- Deutsche Welle
Activists: Syrian Forces Target Islamic State Fighters in Palmyra -- VOA
Official: Syrian army preparing for counterattack on Islamic State -- Washington Post
Rights group: Islamic State executes more than 200 detainees in Palmyra -- UPI
Islamic State crisis: Iraq will take back Ramadi 'in days' - PM Abadi -- BBC
Islamic State reportedly seizes all of the Al Waleed border crossing in Iraq -- Threat Matrix
Pentagon accuses Iraq of 'failing to fight' as Islamic State fortifies Ramadi, faces air strikes in Palmyra -- WSJ
Secretary of Defense Carter: Iraq lacks will to fight Islamic State -- UPI
Iraqi, Iranian officials criticize US defense chief over comments -- AP
Report: Iranian Guard leader says US let Islamic State group take Iraq's Ramadi amid criticism -- AP
Hezbollah leader vows to fight Islamic State group ‘everywhere’ -- France24
Hezbollah chief: Islamic State poses ‘existential threat’ akin to Israel -- Times of Israel
Islamic State: Australia open to possibility of deploying more forces after Ramadi, Palmyra losses -- ABC News (Australia)
Biden reassures Iraqi prime minister of US support -- AP
Q&A: Alhurra's Rafal Mahdi on Islamic State Battle for Anbar -- VOA