The United States has begun carrying out air strikes near Iraq's Haditha Dam, which was under threat from Islamic State militants, The Associated Press reported.
The airstrikes launched on Sunday in western Iraq were targeting Islamic State insurgents in a move to prevent the group from capturing the vital dam, according to the AP. The dam has six power generators located alongside Iraq's second-largest reservoir.
"We conducted these strikes to prevent terrorists from further threatening the security of the dam, which remains under control of Iraqi Security Forces, with support from Sunni tribes," Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby said in a statement, the AP reported.
The dam is a major source of water and electrical power and the air strikes were made at the request of the Iraqi government, Kirby said, according to the AP.
The U.S. offensive was an effort to beat back militants who have been trying to take over key dams across the country, U.S. officials said, adding that the dam remains in under Iraqi control, according to the AP.
"At the request of the Iraqi government and in keeping with our mission to protect U.S. personnel and facilities, U.S. military planes have begun striking ISIL terrorists near the Haditha Dam," said the official who declined to be identified, the AP reported. "These strikes are being conducted to prevent the terrorists from further threatening Iraqi security forces in control of the dam."
Islamic State fighters were battling to capture the Haditha Dam last month, but, despite their attacks, Iraqi forces there backed up by local Sunni tribes have been able to hold them off, the AP reported.
The group was able to take control of the Mosul Dam in northern Iraq last month, but persistent U.S. airstrikes dislodged the militants, according to the AP. Fighters have been trying to take it back, but the U.S. has continued to use strikes to keep them at bay.
"We will continue to conduct operations as needed in support of the Iraqi Security Forces and the Sunni tribes, working with those forces securing Haditha Dam," Kirby said, the AP reported.
