The U.S. military has blasted Islamic militants with another 15 airstrikes near Iraq's Mosul Dam amid conflicting reports about who is in control of the key water and electricity source. U.S. Central Command said Monday's fighter, bomber and drone strikes destroyed nine fighting positions held by Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham and destroyed vehicles and weaponry. A senior defense official said bombing raids supporting efforts by Iraqi security forces and Kurdish fighters to retake the dam from ISIS are likely to continue.
An Iraqi official and Iraqi TV reported that ISIS had lost control of the complex on the Tigris River two weeks after seizing it, but the U.S. official said that while Kurdish fighters have taken over portions of the dam, the militants were holding other parts. Pentagon sources said they are confident, however, that the Kurds will eventually prevail.
In the last 10 days, the U.S. has conducted 68 airstrikes in Iraq, more than half near the dam, which supplies electricity and water to much of the country. No American troops have been on the ground during the battle over the dam.
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