US military conducts airstrikes against ISIL near Mosul Dam in north Iraq

WASHINGTON (Xinhua) - US military forces continued airsrikes against forces of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) on Saturday with a mix of fighter and remotely piloted aircraft, according to a statement released by  US Central Command.

Aircraft from US Central Command successfully conducted strikes near Erbil and the Mosul Dam in north Iraq under authority to support humanitarian efforts in Iraq, as well as to protect US personnel and facilities, the statement said.

The nine airstrikes conducted thus far destroyed or damaged four armored personnel carriers, seven armed vehicles, two Humvees and an armored vehicle, the statement said, adding that all US aircraft exited the strike areas safely.

Over the past two days, US military forces conducted several airsrikes against ISIL forces near a village located south of Sinjar Mountain, successfully destroying five armed vehicles of ISIL forces, a statement of US Defense Department said on Saturday.