Turning to the front lines in Iraq,... Kurdish forces... backed by U.S. airstrikes... have regained control of a strategic dam near the city of Mosul... from Islamic militants.
With more, we now turn to Paul Yi at the News Center.
Paul, how significant is this victory?
Well, the hydro-electric dam is known to be a key source of water and power for a large area in northern Iraq.
It will also likely act as a crucial supply line and launching point for an offensive to retake Mosul the country′s largest city.
U.S. President Barack Obama called this latest development a "major step forward" in the battle against the rising insurgency.
Our Hwang Ji-hye reports.
Iraqi and Kurdish forces have taken back control of Mosul Dam from Islamic State militants.
U.S. President Barack Obama said Monday... that the victory,... aided by American airstrikes,... was a "major step forward"... in the battle against I-S militants, who seized the dam earlier this month.
Obama also pledged to continue a long-term strategy to defeat the insurgency.
The dam,... which is Iraq′s largest,... holds great strategic value... as it controls the water supply for most of the country.
The militants targeted the dam as part of ambitions to expand its hold in northern Iraq,... where they have driven back Kurdish forces and sent thousands of minorities in the area fleeing for their lives.
As the militants withdrew,... they released a video message intended for the U.S., which said they would drown all of them "in blood."
The I-S fighters also warned... that it would attack Americans at any time and any place,... if U.S. airstrikes target their troops.
The fighters have threatened to advance to the capital of Baghdad.
Hwang Ji-hye, Arirang News.
