Breaking News English

The USA has started [targeting / targeted] forces of the Islamic State (IS) in northern Iraq. Several US air strikes have taken out [heavily / heavy] weaponry that the Islamic State [captured / catapulted] from the Iraqi army. President Obama said the new attacks [are / be] to protect American residents in Erbil, the capital [of / for] Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region. IS recently changed its name [as / from] ISIS (the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria). The group now controls a quarter of Iraq, [including / inclusive] the country's largest dam, and a [thirdly / third] of Syria. Mr Obama made it clear that there would be no [boots / shoes] on the ground. He said: "Even as we support Iraqis as they take the fight to these terrorists, American combat troops will not be [returned / returning] to fight in Iraq."

Another reason for the air strikes [on / in] the IS is to protect Iraq's Yazidi people and other [minors / minority] groups. The Yazidis are ethnically Kurdish. Their religion [includes / including] elements of Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Zoroastrianism. The IS told the Yazidis to [conversion / convert] to Islam, pay a tax, or [face / facing] death. Earlier this week the UN warned of a humanitarian catastrophe [with / within] the possibility of ethnic cleansing at the [palms / hands] of the IS. The IS have reportedly taken [hundred / hundreds] of Yazidi women hostage. Obama said the latest US military action is also, "a humanitarian [effort / efforts] to help save thousands of [Yazidis] who are trapped on a mountain without food and water and facing almost [certainly / certain] death".