US opens new airstrikes targeting IS in Iraq, Syria
(VOVworld) - US war planes conducted 25 airstrikes in Syria and Iraq on Friday and Saturday, targeting Islamic State jihadists and oil infrastructure they control, said the American military. Of 15 air strikes in Syria, 12 were aimed at "degrading and destroying their oil producing, collecting, storage and transportation infrastructure," the US Central Command said in a statement. The jihadists control a swath of territory straddling northwestern Iraq and eastern Syria, home to most of Syria's main oilfields. Seven of the US strikes were east of Diban while another of the five others against oil targets was southeast of Deir Ezzor and damaged a modular refinery. Three other strikes in Syria hit two IS fighting positions near Kobane and a military camp in the Raqa province.
In another development, Spain will begin training Iraqi forces later this year to battle Islamic State (IS) fighters but has ruled out taking part in ground operations in Syria, officials said on Saturday. Spanish Defense Minister Pedro Morenes made the announcement in Washington, where he met Friday with US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. He visited US Central Command in Florida, where he discussed military operations with Iraq and against IS militants.