The US on Sunday launched two waves of air strikes against Islamic State (Isis) militants in northern Iraq, in the most extensive American military operations in the country since the withdrawal of ground troops in 2011.

The strikes helped Kurdish peshmerga fighters to regain control of the strategically important Mosul dam captured by militants two weeks ago.

“Mosul Dam was liberated completely,” Ali Awni, an official from Iraq’s main Kurdish party, told AFP, a statement confirmed by two other Kurdish sources.

Early in the day US aircraft, for the first time including land-based bombers, carried out 14 strikes. Later, US Central Command confirmed further strikes had been carried out by “fighter and attack aircraft”.

In a letter to Congress, outlining the rationale and justification for the strikes, Obama said the integrity of the dam was crucial to the security of the US embassy in Baghdad. The US has consistently cited the security of US personnel in Baghdad as cover for its military operation to support the Kurds.



Sunday’s first strikes were the first time that bombers as well as fighter jets and drones had been involved in the current air campaign, which began on 8 August alongside drops of humanitarian aid to Yazidi refugees marooned on Mount Sinjar.

A statement from US Central Command said the 14 strikes had been carried out “to support humanitarian efforts in Iraq, and support Iraqi security forces and Kurdish defence forces”. Isis fighters around the dam and the Kurdish capital of Irbil were hit nine times on Saturday.



“US military forces continued to attack [Isis] terrorists in Iraq Sunday,” the statement said, “using a mix of fighter, bomber, attack and remotely piloted aircraft to successfully conduct air strikes near the Mosul dam.”

The statement said the strikes damaged or destroyed “10 armed vehicles, seven Humvees, two armoured personnel carriers and one checkpoint”, and added that all aircraft involved had “exited the strike areas safely”.

The second statement from Central Command said the second wave of strikes, which were not numbered, had “destroyed three armed vehicles, a vehicle-mounted anti-aircraft artillery gun, a checkpoint and an IED emplacement”. All aircraft involved were again reported to have returned.

In his letter to Congress, Obama said the strikes had been authorised in order to “recapture the Mosul dam”. He added: “These military operations will be limited in their scope and duration as necessary to support the Iraqi forces in their efforts to retake and establish control of this critical infrastructure site, as part of their ongoing campaign against the terrorist group the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [Isis].”



Since Isis militants captured the dam, which supplies electricity and water to a vast area of northern Iraq, two weeks ago, fears have been expressed that they could cut off water or electricity or orchestrate a massive and catastrophic flood.



In his letter, Obama said: “The failure of the Mosul dam could threaten the lives of large numbers of civilians, endanger US personnel and facilities, including the US Embassy in Baghdad, and prevent the Iraqi government from providing critical services to the Iraqi populace.”

In a statement, the National Security Council spokesperson Caitlin Hayden said: “This mission is consistent with President Obama’s directive that the US military protect US personnel and facilities in Iraq.”



In his letter, Obama – who on Sunday broke his vacation in Massachusetts to return to Washington – said: “I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution … I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action.”

Another commander said peshmerga forces had crossed the Tigris river. Speaking anonymously, the commander told the AP the advance was encountering roadside bombs and buildings rigged with explosives. He also said the Iraqi government had delivered 16 military Humvees and mechanised bomb-disposal equipment, and said his fighters needed further military supplies.

Kurdish fighters were also reported to be advancing on Mosul; witnesses said they had taken two mainly Christian towns, Batmaiya and Telasqaf, 18 miles from the city.

The US and international humanitarian mission has been aimed at helping refugees from the Yazidi religious minority, who have been persecuted by Isis. On Saturday, witnesses said militants had executed 80 Yazidi men from the village of Kocho and abducted their wives and children; the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the execution of 700 Yazidis across the border in eastern Syria.

Yazidi men flock to join military camps and fight against Isis. Guardian

Around 100 Yazidis demonstrated in the town of Dohuk on Sunday, saying they wanted to travel to Turkey but were being prevented from doing so.

“They can’t protect us,” Reuters quoted one as saying. “The Islamic State came to our villages and killed hundreds. We don’t want to stay in Iraq, they will kill us sooner or later. I want America to help me. The peshmerga are not letting us through.”

Some Yazidi men have been training with Kurdish fighters in camps on the Iraq-Syria border, in order to join the fight against Isis.