>> "on the edge eighteen" only on al jazeera america >> welcome to the newshour. coming up in this program, the u.s. launches a new phase and offensiveges islamic state fighters in iraq. in the ranks, president mahmoud am has takes aim at hamas. breach of the newly agreed cease-fire as fighting resumes.

we will take you live to find a unique way to stay relevant in the digital age t the u.s. started a fresh offenseniv iraq expanding its bombing campaign against fighters from the islamic state group. u.s. and iraqi forces have bomb sites in western anbar province where sunni tribes are trying to protect the dam. it's the first time the u.s. has hit targets in anbar, the iraqi state t.v. says government troops are in control of the northern entrance of the town about 15 kilometers south of hadifa. new reports say at least fifteen i.s fighters were killed in the operation. later this week, u.s. president barack obama is expected to outline plans to go on an offensive against islamic state fighters.

chuck hagel has defended the u.s. air operations. >> first, the iraqi government asked us for their support in those strikes. second, it was the iraqi security forces on stot ground who con received of the operation. they, too, the iraqi security force, air force, is conducting strikes. the hadifa dam is an important facility for iraq. >> a spokesman for iraq's intrrp ministry said outside help is welcome. this counscil, there must be hep from the global system and if there is amarillo help from the american side, we will take he will it in a shorter time. >> the governor of anbar pronts has been hurt by shamnal after

an explosive hit his convoy. he has tweeted saying he has been slightly injured but is okay. talk to john hendron, he joins me from erbil. what's the fallout from these airstrikes, john? >> well, jane, hadifah is the latest spot where there seems to be iraqi forces. >> fighting seems to be pretty intention. about a thousand sunni traiblfieders joined alongside troops to recapture the dam and are making an effort to recapture the city of hadifa partly controlled by islamic state fighters. something like 15 islamic state fighters had been killed. something like eight of them had been killed. the fight is intensifying around this strategic city. >> that's not the only place it's going on. there is also a battle ongoing seems like it's going on slow motion because it's been a couple of days, but shia fighters and iraqi army troops

are tacking the ta tikrit on the sides. mean while there is the strategic city of mosul, probably the strong point of the islamic state in iraq. and that is firmlying in islamic state control. but peshmerga fighters have closed in. they are closing in on both the east and the west. i was told by a spokesman todd captured about 10 kilometers in the area of gaza including the strategic high point of zertek mountain that allows them to see down into the city of mosul, a christian town called bartolo there. we can expect to hear fighting in that region in the coming days. >> okay. why haditha in particular? why is it so important? >> well, two reasons really: oil and water. haditha is right between kirkuk where the oil comes out of the ground and biji, where it is

refined. the lammic state is trying to capture the oil infrastructure. this is the effort by iraqi forces to fight back. there is also that hydro electric dam. >> that's the second largest hydro electric contributor to the iraqi power grid and so that is strategically important. also, if it were to flood f they were to blow it up, it would threaten thousands of iraqis in that area, but, also, the white house put out a statement saying it didn't just threaten iraqis. it threatened americans because it could actually flood as far away as baghdad international airport and that's where a lot of american citizens live. therefore, it was a threat not just on iraqis but a threat on americans as well. >> this will liens john hendren and talk about what the member countries of the arab league are saying about the islamic state. they are saying it's guilty of war crafts. a statement has been put by iraq saying in kye rye they are likely to support u.s. action against the fighters.

the league's secretary general has called for military and political confrontation of the is group. >> mac mood abbas is attending that meeting, trying to win support for a palestinian state within three years, but he says efforts are being undermined by hamas. he has threatened to break off a unity deal as mike hanna reports. >> reporter: president abbas's comments were made where he has held talks with his egyptian counterpart. statements by hamas that a number of members have been arrested in the west bank in a clamp down by the palestinian authority. the response from hamas, though, was muted. a spokesman for the organization saying it would be better for abbas to bring up these allegations in direct negotiations rather than in the media. >> translator: these tensions or statements are no reward for

the defiant people of palestine who stood up to beligrents. we formed high level delegations on points to ensure the implementation in terms of reconciliation. >> the issue of palestinian unity was brought up in the meeting of arab league foreign ministers in cairo, speakers insisting a unity government was essential if any progress was to be made in securing a viable palestin-i can't. it would appear it's in the interests of all to maintain unity moves, the particularly reality in this post-gaza war period is that fatah and hamas need to prop each other up rather than move forward. mike hannah, al jazeera, ramallah. >> let's bring in the former spokesman for the palestinian authority. thank you very much for joining us. you know what's going on with the palestinian authority and the way abbas thinks. what's he trying to do here? >> well, contrary to

expectations, it seemed that this last war by israel on hamas actually fueled the already difficult relations between the two sides. i think abbas wants to make it clear that the difficulties in gaza in no way the responsibility of the palestinian authority and that hamas, which is expecting the pa to pay its employees are not allowing the p.a. to have any kind of responsibility and i am talking about the unity government, which is supposed to be a representative of the two sides. >> excuse me for jumping in here. hasn't it also helped isolate hamas since, of course, there are many players who would benefit from it? >> probably that will isolate hamas but let's also remember that the p.a. does not have much

credibility, especially in the eyes of many palestinians, including in the west bank, but, also, outside. i think that also mahmoud abbas is trying to protect the palestinian authority in the west bank because hamas's popularity in the west bank has increased sharply during the last war on gaza. and that encouraged hamas's organization and elements in the west bank to move towards more high profile. >> who do you think et cetera trying to appease? >> i think he is trying to appease different parties partially in pal stan because there are many pal stinz who not have been with the fact that hamas is allowing the unity government to take up its responsibilities in gaza in addition to some other international parties as well.

>> very diplomatic. what do you think is going to happen? what's the outcome on this? >> i think the current unfortunate set up of hamas in control of gaza and partial control of west bank is going to continue especially that this stattous quo is important to israel, a major player in palestinian internal politics. >> thank you very much. in syria, there has been fresh fighting in the province of konetrra. saying they contain thetown. >> fierce battles in the countryside after controlling the only border crossing in the area opposition fighters want to seize more military posts which belongs to the syrian army's 90th brigade. >> controlling a number.

we liberated three important posts already. >> the fighters want to cut off the government supply between the western countryside of damascus. they also want to secure a new lifeline for rebel forces under siege for months in the area. rebels also aim to bolster their control of the western countryside of dera. it is not an easy fight. government troops are still holding on their positions and that means the battle could track on for days or weeks. but the rebel gains made recently is providing the fighters with a feeling of momentum. the goal of these battles is to open a route to the countryside and from there to the capital, god willing. >> in other parts of syria, it is the government forces at hand. >> in homms, battling in the northern country side. the government has routed to the, the syrian revolution.

making gains in the damascus country side. sir an jets are bombing aleppo. in the areas in and around the capitol of damascus, the city has struck reconciliation deals with local rebels ending months of siege, destruction and starvation. damascus appears to be more secure than three years ago when syria's war started. syria's main opposition to the syrian national coalition seems weak and divided, you providing much needed weapons to turn the tides against government fors. >> as for president bashad assad, his plans are clear. he has just started a new seven year office with a promise to end the war and defeat what he calls the terror campaign against his country. al jazeera. . >> more ahead still ahead on al jazeera. anger in afghanistan. rallies are held as the men found guilty of a gang rape are

sentenced. plus: >> musicians use the power of song top warn about ebola. west african nations take extreme action. coming up ahead, mercedes make it a 1-2 at the italian grand prix. the latest in sports. in a return to fuel subsidies fighting in the north of the country has also resumed. more than sent people have been killed in the last three days. now live from the cap. it's getting pretty violent there. what's going on? >> reporter: very much so.

the police now using tear gas canisters and canons to disperse the houthi protest orders from the protest camp. what happens over the last two days is that the houthis set up a protest camp during the ministry of interior. an escalation of their move, they started pitching tents on the airport road. one of the members that leads to the international airport. the police are saying an statement was issued saying the goal of the attempt to open the main road that leads to the airport. it makes it tense now in the capitol, sanaa. the government in a bid to appease tension has offered two concessions to houthis. they remain determined that they want all of their demands met. >> this is a dance yemeni has

performed during times of war and peace. today, it's a healthy warning to the government that their patience is running out. the minority shia have been demanding the government to resign and cut fuel prices. today, we send a warning to the government. if our demands are not met, we will escalate. to the president, we say we know your manoeuvring tactics. we don't buy in to what you say. the government cut fuel prices by 12% and agreed to remain full control over the ministries of defense, interior and foreign affairs. the thisouthis say that's not enoughhouthis say that's not enough this is one of the main roads that leads to the airport. now, it's blocked. >> for weeks, these protesters have been on the streets calling on the government to the resign.

now, they say they will escalate their actions by blocking some of the capitol's main street and occupying government buildings. something that may force the police and the army to respond. >> many government buildings, including the ministry of interior are located here. the authorities made it clear they are ready to take all measures to restore order. this crowd is chanting a popular slogan here. death to america. damn the jews. for these people, the u.s. and israel are the biggest threat to islam. >> our problem is the u.s. and the west you want. they are creating conflict to divide us as the yemenis. they want us divided to control gas and oil. >> the area is controlled by the houthis. they have their own police force. checkpoints to present an attack inside the protest camps.

these yellow arm bands and flags are distributed among the shia community to rally more support behind what the yemen's true revolution. violence here in the capitol and military confrontation in the northern province, this is an area where the houthis are trying to expand their reach because its neighboring area is where mosul, yemen's oil is produced. for them, it's very crucial area because of the control. they can have more military and political leverage on the government. today, launched airstrikes against the positions. it's a delicate situation. the concern here now in the capitol, particularly the last two hours, people are concerned if the protesters and the police start firing bullets at each other, most of their parts of

the capital, they might send their own fighters here to protect the protesters. >> could lead to a disastrous outcome here in the capitol where basically every single human being in this place has a weapon. >> all right. we will leave you and the call to prayer there. thank you. a cease-fire between ukrainian government forces and pro-russia separatists has been breached. there have beenplosions near the airport in donetsk, shells have landed on village homes near the main rebel-held city and heavy shelling hits a government checkpoint in the port city of mariupol. in donetsk, one of the cities that has seen a flare-up in the violence. what's the situation now? >> reporter: for the first 24 hours, this ceasefire looked like it might stick. it all felt quiet on friday night after the 6:00 p.m. cease-fire came into force. in the last 24 hours, just passed 48 hours since it was

called, and frankly, there has been fighting both here in donetsk and down in mariupol and close to the airport. the airport is just down that road there. we have been here for most of the day. according to government records published in "the los angeles times," deportation of minors peaked in 2008, and plummeted after that. then there's the backlog in the immigration courts, taking off in 2008, and the bottom line is most children coming from central america stay in the u.s. for years, while their cases make their way through the legal system. so regardless of whether it's true, it's a lag time that is helping to fuel the rumours of permissos, permits for children

to stay in the u.s. listen to what these honduran migrants told us. >> we went because of the permit given to minors to stay. >> we hear that if the permit arrived with the child they could stay. >> translation: we heard when we made it to the other side of the river, immigration would give us a permit. >> reporter: child welfare officials in honduras are not always sure of the policy. >> translation: seeing these people make this decision, i thought it may be true. who knows. i'm learning it was a big lie. so washington is partially responsible for the immigration crisis. can they find solutions. mike viqueira is at the white house with more. >> the president promised action. when? >> we don't expect anything until after the elections. that is a change. in june the president exacerbated by the

introns gent, house republicans refusing to move a bill, that was comprehensive immigration reform, that provided a path for citizenship after hurdles were to be cleared. first and foremost provided beefed up border security in the form of 20,000 border patrol agents and other technologies to deal with what is happening. the president said he wanted information. it's the end of summer, and the indications from the podium behind me, if you put on your washington decoater -- decoder ring, and read between the lines, it's clear nothing will be posed by the president to alleviate the crisis. we heard from heidi zhou-castro about the reality on the ground. when it gets to the abstract world in washington, things change more.

some would say misshapen, the issues that are separated from what people are going through and trying to accomplish. legislatively and in terms of providing assistance to some folks that stream over the america. >> congress and the president kicked this can down the road for several years. why do we believe after the election there might be action? >> i'm not sure if it's fair to say the white house kicked the can down the road. remember the bush administration, bush 43, toured the republican party in two, because he proposed much like what the senate passed. the president kept the pressure on, we can say that in objectivity. it passed the senate, controlled by democrats, comprehensive reform. politics is going into this, and the president backed off some of the executive actions that promised to stop the spike in

deportations. the senate - if it is lost, the cause is lost. they thought the calculation was if the president pushed ahead. it would engage democrats in arkansas, louisiana, the senate would go republican. . >> both sides have shown a disregard. the human rights organization says its documented indisriminate shellings, torture and murder. ... a heavy buildup of russian armor and artillery in eastern ukraine despite the crimin criminallints insistence it's not sporting the separatists. amnesty is calling on all sides including russia to stop violating the rules of war. >> an afghan court has sentenced seven men to death in connection with the gang rape case which has angered the country. prosecute orders moved the men to court. now they want them hanged in public. jennifer glasse reports from

kabul. >> reporter: the death sentence came after only a few hours in court. seven men convicted of a series of crimes. it was the abductor, robbery and of three women that brought the case to national attention. the trial was broadcast life with a packed courtroom. outside, demonstrators demanded punishment. >> we want the supreme court and the justice system and the afghan government to punish those people as soon as possible so that this kind of thing does not repeat again and again. these demonstrators say an attack is an attack against the nation. they want justice in the post pup rape case this country has seen in recent history. >> hamad karzi was calling for the death penalty even before it went to trial. one of the defense lawyers said the police violated basic rules of law and physically abused his

clients who he said are illiterate and poor. >> the security process and the investigative teams didn't respect my client's basic right to remain silent, didn't explain their right to have a lawyer, which is against the constitution. >> he criticized the police decision to use t.v. and social media to update the public on the case. making the identities of the men public before they went to trial. kabul's police chief posted photographs of the women as they pointed out the men they say attacked them. the men have the right to appeal their sentences. jennifer glasse, al jazeera, kabul. >> security services have detained two british citizenship. they went missing set up days ago while researching living conditions of the workers, qatar's foreign ministry said they gave few other details. major construction projects are underway in qatar ahead of the

2022 ball world cup. it has been criticized for its treatment of workers qatar's ministry of foreign affairs released a statement saying the security services followed all of the right procedures with the two men and they were treated with humanity and detension. in accordance with international human rights law. al jazeera's demanding the release of its three journalists who have been detained in egypt 253 days. the three received long sentences after a trial seen by many observers as politically motivated. they are appealing their convictions. the u.s. secretary general ban kee moon has raised the case with the egyptian president. join campaign to get them freed by using freeajstaff on twitter. find out more going to the special page on our website. aljazeera.com. still ahead, new hope in the fight to stop the disease that's

robbing nigerians. >> i am harris in la paz, bolivia where mod he were technology is being used to do more than just improve the quality of life of the citizens of this country. >> in sport, zap 1910iz star makes history at the u.s. open. coming up vé

>> it's a chilling and draconian sentence... it simply cannot stand. >> this trial was a sham... >> they are truth seekers... >> all they really wanna do is find out what's happening, so they can tell people... >> governments around the world all united to condemn this... >> as you can see, it's still a very much volatile situation... >> the government is prepared to carry out mass array... >> if you want free press in the new democracy, let the journalists live. al jazeera america presents, edge of eighteen >> my heart is racing so fast >> standing at a crossroads... >> my parents have their plan. i'm gonna do what god asks me to do before what they ask me to do... >> can a family come together? >> do you think that you can try and accept me for me? >> life changing moments...

>> my future is in my hands right now... >> from oscar winning director alex gibney, a ground breaking look at the real issues facing american teens on, the edge of eighteen only on aljazeera america ♪ . hello. i am richard ginsburg. you are at "the listening post" pakistan democracy put to the test. losers by default. argentina, vulture funds and the fight for the narrative. a media tycoon investigated for bribery i