Kurdish fighters reclaim Iraq's largest dam from Islamic State with support from US airstrikes in their biggest victory since the Islamist group began its offensive

Kurdish fighters have recaptured Iraq's largest dam from Jihadists amid 'fierce resistance' from Islamic fighters after support from US airstrikes, according to security officials.
The recapture of the strategically important Mosul dam is the biggest prize since the Islamist State extremist group started its offensive in Iraq.
U.S. and Iraqi planes had aided the Kurdish advance by bombing militant targets close to the facility in the western governorate of Ninawa, which was captured by Jihadists on August 7.
 
 

Smoke can be seen billowing from the direction of the dam, Iraq's largest, after a U.S. air strike close to the facility today

The dam is around 30 miles from the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, where this picture - showing smoke billowing from a site close to the dam - was taken, moments after an air strike

The U.S. had began targeting Islamic State fighters with airstrikes a little over a week ago, allowing Kurdish forces to fend off an advance on their regional capital Irbil and to help tens of thousands of members of religious minorities escape the extremists' onslaught.
The dam on the Tigris, which supplies electricity and water for irrigation to northern Iraq, was seized on 7 August and there were fears the IS militants could blow it up.

Kurdish troops stand guard in Chamibarakat, close to the dam, which was taken by Jihadi forces two weeks ago