>> "the stream". tuesday, 1:30 eastern. only on al jazeera america. >> isil accused of using chemical weapons in northern iraq. >> you're watching al jazeera good to have your company. also coming up in the next 30 minutes, utter devastation aid agencies appeal for heap after a powerful cyclone hits one of the pacific's most remote communities. >> i'm speaking with you today with a heart that is so heavy. i do not really know what impact

we have. >> also support in the pipeline, yemen houthi levels announce an agreement on fair ball help from iran. >> we have a report from croatia about how men from former yugoslavia are now fighting the war in ukraine. >> iraq kurdish forces say they have evidence which they believe confirms accusation that is isil have been using weaponized chemical agents in the conflict in iraq and syria. according to the kurdish armed regional security council samples collected after a suicide attack on peshmerga forces in january contain chlorine which suggest isil has been using the chemical as weapons. last week, pictures show controlled debt nations of roadside bombs known as i.e.d.s

change chlorine gas. it causes choking and is banned under the 1997 chemical weapons convention. the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons has pressly recorded the use of chemical weapons in neighboring syria during the conflict there. >> one of the world's leading chemical weapons experts said such a development isn't unexpected. >> not surprised at all. just returned from iraq from baghdad advising the iraqi security forces on how to counter the chemical threat from isil primarily chlorine. is state were attacked by the assad regime in december last year using chlorine and that stopped them in their tracks. isil have seen how effective that is, and it was only a

matter of time before they used it themselves and only this week we've seen extensive use of chlorine i.e.d.'s in tikrit. hundreds in fact, were used. the fact that it's also been used north of mosul against peshmerga forces does not surprise me in the slightest. if you have no protection from a gas mask, if you breathe it in, that chlorine mix witness fluids in your longs and burns your lungs. however, chlorine is not as toxic as car run which we've seen astandard use tomorrow is the 100th anniversary of use of chlorine in war.

assad gassed with sarin and must mustard gas. it creates terror. >> the iraqi military said to be holding its position on the city of tikrit trying to flush out isil fighters. the iraqi forces are calling for reinforcements as they try to regain control of the city. they have secured northern and southern parts of tikrit, but isil fighters still holding about half of the city. iraqi forces regaining control to have the momentum to move toward another isil stronghold, mosul. peshmerga forces have blown up a bridge in northern iraq. the peshmerga have taken control of that area from isil about five months ago. we have this analysis of the situation on the ground in

tikrit. >> essentially what iraqi militia commanders say is that they need this time to get enreinforcements into tikrit. now, they've managed to take back part of the city, but still isil remains in control of about half of it. even in the areas where it's not in control anymore, they have left behind booby trapped buildings explosives almost everywhere and neighborhoods ringed by snipers. that's why it's taking so long, it's the iraqi military with militia members calling for more militia reinforcements as well as explosive experts. they need them to go neighborhood to neighborhood, street to street and clear explosives before the iraqi troops and militia men can move further in. militia commanders say that's expected to take a few more days. the worry is who is going to maintain control of the city, which force will be able to hold it after they drive out isil.

isil has been engaging in battles in other areas as they're driven out of tikrit. near kirkuk, there have been frequent battles with peshmerga forces. in is samara, there are airstrikes. isil captured more than 10 iraqi soldiers. that's not the only place, in the north, in the town of guer, isil has blown up part of a bridge. that bridge was previously blown up by peshmerga foes but repaired. it was blown up to halt the advance of isil fighters toward erbil. the fact that isil has destroyed the remaining part of the bridge could indicate that they are coming back into areas where they have been driven back previously by kurdish forces and u.s. airstrikes.

>> we reported just now and our other report over the years the battle against isil is taking place on numerous fronts. shia clerics are calling for more support for the militia backing the army. an iranian general rarely seen on cam race leading those militia men. his story now. >> this is how iraq's military wants the word to see its advances in isil held tikrit. iraqi forces making headway despite attacks and booby trapped buildings. >> i think the tide has turned in tikrit and it will be liberated, soon, sooner than expected. >> before the military would use iranian backed shia militias. many believe they deserve more credit. their general was instrumental in the offensive in the north by peshmerga forces backed by shia militias. he's been spotted at key

location in iraq and now the commander of the elite force is reportedly in tikrit. the general is believed to be leading the fight against isil in the city. his influence goes beyond the battlefield. many believe he is a propaganda being used on social media. >> they need moo. >> la dean who are experts. >> the u.s. coalition release on iraqi beats on the ground to take back areas. without the support of shia militias iraqi troops struggle against isil. it is alleged these militia are an extended arm of iran's

military. >> iraq must build a statue to the general for what he has done for us. the americans can't liberate the village. the americans are giving us tanks with our own money. the iranians are helping us in exchange for nothing. >> iraq's government has been trying to address the fears of the sunni population, but they want more than speeches. >> we hope that the words will turn into actions and all those who attack civilians and properties shall be punished severely. >> as militia men celebrate taking back areas of tikrit, the battle to overtake the sectarian divisions is still far from over. al jazeera. >> >> those people live on the

remote pacific islands have spent a second night in emergency shelters after struck by one of the most powerful cyclones ever recorded. they say people died when cyclone pam hilted idol. aid agencies say entire villages have been destroyed. it made landfall on friday, winds at 270 kilometers an air. in the days ahead, it is expected to continue heading towards new zealand losing strength as it does so. the aid agencies believe this will be a serious humanitarian crazy, and with communications largely down, it is difficult to know the true extent of the damage. here's richard martin. >> it's more than 24 hours since psych loan pam hit this tiny island nation. winds of 270 kilometers and hour tore through homes destroying livelihoods. many of the quarter of a mile

people who live here were forced into shelters for a second night. dozens are feared dead. with power lines down and remote villages unreachable the disaster is far from clear. >> it's been a very, very destructive cyclone and hitting a country that is using a lot of traditional chances and housing which means they are quite vulnerable to this kind of intensity. >> in japan, he was moved by the destruction, calling for international help. >> i'm speaking with you today with a hard that is so heavy i do not really know what impact cyclone pam has left us with. >> emergency units of sent to the area, their first priority to bring food and shelter to those in need of help. the cyclone wreaked havoc in other pacific islands.

as it makes its way south across the pacific its forecast to pass close to new zealand in the coming hours. richard martin, al jazeera. >> more news out of libya now. there have been clashes between isil-affiliated fighters there and the militia group backed by the tripoli-based government. one man is reported to have been killed and two others hurt. it's not the militia came under attack in the coastline east of sirte. about 150 isil affiliated fighters are reported to have been involved in that fighting. >> yemen's houthi group which took control of the capital last year strengthened economic ties with iran in a move that's causing alarm among some regional countries. tehran has pledged $1 billion a year to support yemen. houthi militia's have formed a new national alliance. >> there's a power vacuum in yemen, and iran appears to be

capitalizing on it. since the shia houthi's forced the president to flee the capitol, iran has found a willing partner. a houthi delegation has just returned from a two week mission to iran with an economic aid package. a houthi spokesman said iran is pledging to help build power plants, a port and enough oil to last a year. the houthi's say the pledge of support will boost the economy and bilateral relations. a spokesman for the exiled government says the only ones getting a boost from this deal are the houthis. >> the iranian interference is about support to militias or militia groups. iran has never supported any country economically. the point is that the yemeni daily $8 million consumption of oil, i don't think iran can offer that kind of money.

>> it follows the recent announcement of direct flights between the two countries for the first time. the inaugural flight brought aid workers and supplies. the yemeni government fears future flights will bring more weapons to arm the houthis. yemenis continue to protest the power grab of the houthis. a new center is called the national alliance for rescue and the president is in aden, cling to go power as yemen appears to be slipping towards civil war. al jazeera. >> coming up on this program here on al jazeera historic visit within south asia, why the indian prime minister's trim to sri lanka is considered so important. plus: >> it's still 2015, though apparently that is what the future will look like.

find out more. stay tuned to the program.

>> the foreign minister said india will support sri lanka to bring reconciliation after decades of civil war. >> we stand with you in your efforts to build a future that accommodates the expeditions of

all sections of the society including a life of equality, and justice in sri lanka. >> the new government was urged to work toward a speedy resolution saying india would support and stand by side with sri lanka. using the leverage that he has with parties the prime minister advised them not to expect too much too early giving them a clear message. >> to be patient, that india would be with us, and that by not rocking the boat too much, or not delaying the process, we should take it to its logical conclusion, and actually reap the benefits of this change. >> unlike visits by international leaders to the north, there were no major

demonstrations or protests. this group representing families of missing people and women and fisherman organizations protested outside the india consulate. >> it's 25 years since we were displaced. we kept moving houses, people living in temporary camps. this is a third generation. >> this group is luckier they met the prime minister who distributed deeds to houses held by the government. closer relations are being built between these two neighbors. al jazeera, sri lanka. >> chinese fighter jets have been put on alert after an air raid by myanmar's military. four people died when the aircraft dropped a bomb. myanmar said was targeting rebels alongside china's southwestern border.

>> sierra leone vice president asked for asylum in the u.s. embassy in the capitol after soldiers surrounded his home. he was expelled from the ruling old people's congress party after an investigation accused him of create ago rival political movement. he's denied that and has rejected calls for his resignation. >> theme parks chocolate and water shortage, what do they have in common? they're going to play a feature in the organization of mankind. there is hope, as we explain. >> welcome to the future. >> well, it's noise. you can say that at least but will we really be strapped into chairs in coming years virtual reality masks on our faces? today it's just for fun. >> in the future, i'm speculate

that go we're going to go inside people's brains to take them to the next level. >> safely now and back in the year 2015, here's the verdict on this one. >> the whole world is around you, you're completely immersed. >> this is the future fest in london a look at how lives will be in decades to come. >> a world where robots take on their owner's faces. a world of color. >> this is not just a look at how bright the future will be. it's also asking serious questions about problems the world will face, for example global water and food shortages. imagine a world where the price of cocoa has risen so much that a bar of chocolate this size costs $20. >> water shortages these are thirst globes. what's inside these is powdered

fillings which are mostly vegetable. your life i can't mixes with that. there is no liquid used in these. >> this festival for the organizers is a chance to point out that the future really is people powered. >> we can all have a role in deciding what happens then. i think sometimes we leave it up to our political business leaders to make those big decisions about what are cities, what are government and what our every day lives will be in the future. part of the reason for that is there are a lot more of us out there. >> what kind of future do you want? something they are to focus on. al jazeera london. >> the world's most impressive birds of prey breaks a record. there was a camera on the bird's back and eagle flying from the

top of the building in dubai a flight organized by a team want to go highlight the polite of endangered eagles. extraordinary stuff. go to our website, if you can aljazeera.com. in india, a woman's fate can take a cruel twist when her husband dies. >> they would beat me, both my daughter in law and my son would beat me.