same thing we just were told by anbar provincial council. clearly iraqi backed air strikes, have made advances. >> tell us the role of these air strikes. there has been debate in the past how useful they are but in this case they seem to be pretty effective. >> i think it's clear from the start of this when the u.s. got into this with the air strikes and then they expanded to other countries that they have been absolutely instrumental in this fight against i.s.i.l. there's no dispute among the iraqi military, among the kurdish military, that it is whether the effects of the air strikes but where they're being used and what role the u.s. is playing in this conflict in general. taking back al baghdadi or most of al baghdadi. the battle to tikrit, that one being led by iranian backed shia militias. >> what is the latest around that because the fighting around tikrit has been very fierce. >> it is very fierce. the iraqi military backed by iranian ar artillery in some cases and the bulk of the force including shia militia. 30,000 troops, so far t

is a relatively small city near the air base where americans and others are based in western al al anbar that it was taken three days ago to be exact. and the entire area is being taken by being coalition forces or whether it's still being held by i.s.i.l. the head of the baghdadi municipality tells us there are still hotly quested areas hotly contested areas around the town. what we know shilly is there were areas of the siege that were broken and many have come here to baghdad to await the i.s.i.l. being pushed out completely from their home, shimmy. >> there is still fighting going around tikrit, that's presumably going to be the next big target for iraqi forces. >> reporter: that is clearly the main offensive. near a base that is quite high profile. we must remember that the air base where the americans and others operate is almost the size of a city so is not in serious threat. that is most purely an iraqi and iranian show, iraqis under control of iranian backed militias and key iranian advisors in that fight. they are still heading towards tic reiterate trying to surround the city

during his combat tour in iraq he played a critical role in awaken movement in al-anbar province. brigadier general michael fantini is the middle east principle director for the office of assistant secretary of defense tore international security affairs. previously he served as commander of kandahar airfield. brigadier general olson is with us. he is the deputy director for middle east. joined staffs strategic plans and policy at department of defense and previously he served as the deputy commander for marine forces central command. brigadier general olson as i understand, you will not be giving oral testimony but will be available to answer members questions. we thank you for that sir. without objection, the witnesses full prepared statements will be made part of the record. members will have five calendar days to submit any statements or questions of you or any extraneous materials. so we would ask you would summarize your remarks. we'll begin with general allen. >> esteemed members of the committee, thank you for providing me this opportunity to update you on the progress of

. >> and iraqi forces have massed outside a town in anbar province. >>> the influential cleric muqtada alsadr, comes from a family of shia scholars and is the son of the late grand ayatollah mohamed rose to prominence in 2003 when his militia the mukti army began a campaign against islamic state of iraq and the levant. insistence then, instrumental in the he election ever of neweri al maliki.nouri al maliki.its humanitarian situation that aid agencies say is only going to get worse. jane arraf reports from baghdad. >> reporter: aman has been trying to get by on her own since she had to leave her home in anbar province. the mats will help cover her bare floors. it is not easy for a widow with four young daughters. iraqi government taking on i.s.i.l, there is less and less aid. aman is a bit luckier than most. after being helped by the iraqi military to leave the town of baghdadi she is given some money to help pay the rent. more than $200 for this converted kitchen in a house. she had no choice but to leave home. >> translator: no one came to tell us to leave. we left because there was

anbar province figures are withheld. there will be a renewed push against isil. >> i think we are now discussing the whole operation and kicking daish out of iraq. i cannot give time tables, but we are working within this year with the people of these places, people of anbar and other areas they will be with us and they are with with us at the moment, and i think there is well, i'm overseeing the whole organization of this military operation. it has to be military, security, and civil operation to look after the well being of the people at the liberation. >> hamas said egypt is setting a dangerous precedent after a cairo court declared it a terrorist organization. it provoked an angry response from people in gaza. this is the first time an arab court has condemned the group. it supports fighters in north sinai who have been attacking egyptian security forces. more from gas. >> the hamas leadership is angry at this decision by a cairo court to declare the group a terrorist organization, but as well as the anger we've also

said the actual death toll is probably much higher because the fighters exclude the casualties in anbarvince held by fighters from isil. >>> the iraqi prime minister says there will be a renewed push against isil. >> i think we are now discussing the whole operation, taking dash out of iraq. the time tables, we are working within this year's to -- with the people of these places people of anbar and other areas. they will be with us. and i think there is mows -- seeing the operation did he have have. it has to safeguard the people and look after the wellbeing of the people after liberation. >> more to come here on al jazeera, including: why some people in china don't want a second baby even though the one child policy has been relaxed. plus... >> on the high plains of texas where we will be showing you how the falling price of cotton is threatening an entire way of life. rica to see how one rainforest is fighting back. >> wow! some of these are amazing. >> "techknow's" team of experts show you how the miracles of science... >> this is my selfie, what can you tell me about my future? >> c

. >> reporter: according to senior officials in anbar province at least two suicide bombers attacked city of ramadi. according to the deputy head of the provincial council in anbar described this building as strategic. the building was attacked by bombers driving bulldozers. the first bomber struck the barriers opening up the way allowing the second suicide bomber to strike the building and flatten the whole building. now this is the latest in a series of attacks that we've seen taking place in ramadi over the past few days. starting with that offensive carried out by isis on wednesday, a complex and coordinated attack, using multiple suicide car bombs and also more than 150 mortars striking the city, according to officials there. now for months isis has been trying to gain control of ramadi the capital of anbar province this vast desert province freedom naptly sunni that most of that province is up the control of isis. officials say ago isis is coming under pressure by the iraqi forces in tikrit it is striking back in ramadi sending a message that the group remains strong and is cap

. >> reporter: another front in the war against isis, al anbar province, the u.s. is conducting trackstrikes there. traveling with iraqs defense minister he tells me they are making progress in this region, but that the battle for tikrit is just beginning. but u.s. officials say the fight into the city will be bloody, with fears that isis fighters are hidden in homes, armed with suicide vests and laying booby traps. the battle in tikrit and the one in anbar, are a test for the biggest battle to come in mosul. >> mosul represents a symbol. once we take it back, we would have killed their own ambition. >> reporter: and taking it back, the prime minister tells me will be on iraq's timetable, but says it could happen even before summer begins. martha raddatz, abc news, baghdad. >> our thanks to martha and to california now, where actor harrison ford is headed for a third night in the hospital. here's his vintage plane after it crashed into a golf course. the actor being called a hero for landing in a one clear spot in a crowded residential neighborhood. that accident g

another key part in liberating the country of isis, clearing out anbar.traveled to the front lines in al anbar province west of baghdad to see for ourselves how close the battle is being waged. i'm standing right on the front line. these are iraqi security forces on this side and on the other side of that berm, isis. and up on that berm, an iraqi sniper. can you spot isis from your scope? >> yeah. i can see. >> reporter: the defense minister tells me that his troops are ready for battle. their morale is high. [ chanting ] >> reporter: for the prime minister, what the iraqis need are tactical victories, al anbar, tikrit. if they can be successful, it will pave the way for a move on mosul, the heart of isis-controlled territory or da'esh as he refers to the jihadist group. >> once we kick da we will have killed their own ambition. >> reporter: the retaking of mosul, you said you need to take time and need to have your forces trained. >> our timetable is not only time. it's factually on the ground. we have to achieve certain things on the ground. >> reporter

. >> reporter: according to senior officials in anbar province, at least two sued bombers attacked ailding used by the iraqi security forces in the city of ramadi. according to the deputy head of the council in anbar he describes the building as strategic and security forces use it for monitoring an outpost used by snipers. the eight-story building was attacked by bombers driving bulldozers. the first dorve he said on sat struck the concrete barriers around the building and allowing the second suicide bombers to strike the building and flatten the whole building. now this is the latest in a series of attacks that we have seen taking place in ramadi over the past few days. starting with that offensive carried out by isis on wednesday. a complex and coordinated attack using multiple suicide car bombs and also more than 150 mortars striking the city, according to officials there. now for months, isis has been trying to gain control of ramadi, the capital of anbar province, this vast desert province predominantly sunni that most of that province is under the control of isis. officials sa

and the iraqi troops have massed outside a town in the anbar province part of a push towards the cityllujah which has been under isil control for several months now. meanwhile the influence al shia cleric says his militia will help in the planned offensive to recapture mows ill from isil. he comes from a family of shia scholars and is the son of the late grants ayatollah who was allegedly killed by sadam hussein's government. he rose to prominence in 2003 when his militia began a violent campaign against the u.s.-led invasion of iraq. since then the controversial cleric has built strong political support and was instrumental in the election of former shia prime minister nouri al-maliki. he was an islamic democracy. his blends of iraqi nationalism and shia ideology has taken root among iraq's poor shia communities. the iraqi army's advance against ice is forcing a growing number of people from their homes and it's a situation that aid agencies say is only going to get worse. jane arraf reports from baghdad. >> reporter: a man has been trying to get by on her own since she had to leave

in anbar i think we tracked in '08 there were as many as 60 tribes and subtribes. confederations the shamar confederation confederation, delamy, zobai. there are multiple. >> how many do you stay in contact with? you say you've talked to a number of them. >> i've talked to ten or 12. >> ten or 12. >> and they have significant populations. >> okay. earlier you said grand ayatollah sistani had a code of conduct that had 20 items on them. >> 20 points. >> where do we -- where do you -- >> i'll leave one with the committee. >> perfect. okay. do you view -- what do you think the chances are that when this is all said and done, however long that takes that iran winds up with the spoils of the country of iraq and that actually he'll be in charge? >> i don't think that's going to be the case. >> you do not? >> i do not think that's going to be the case. in the end these -- iraq is an arab country. while they -- the -- a large element of the iraqi population shares a confession within the faith of islam with a large population in iran, they are a different people. >> what p

as part of the iraqi army's advance on isil-held positions troops began amassing in anbar province. they're trying to push forward towards the city of fallujah. fallujah has been under isil control for several months now. [ gunfire ] meanwhile kurdish forces are attacking isil positions around kirku cushion in northern iraq. the city itself is under kurdish control, but isil still controls some areas nearby. >>> well, the advance of the iraqi army against isil is forcing a growing number of people from their homes. it's a situation that aid agencies say it's only going to get worse. we have reports from baghdad. >> a man has been trying to get by on her own since she had to leave her home in anbar province. the mattresses from the u.n. refugee agency will help to cover her floors. it's not easy for a widow with four young daughters. with a growing number of iraqis displaced as the iraqi government takes on isil, there is less and less aid. she's a bit luckier than most, after being held by the iraqi military to leave the town of baghdadi she found work as a school janitor. the teach

in western anbar, the u.s.itary and iraqi partners have taken back the town of el-baghdadi, it is close to a military base where the u.s. and other coalition members operate. sources on the ground. including provincial politicians say that it has not been freed, that there is fighting going on. all of that is due to be discussed by mitchell dempsey, the top u.s. -- by general martin martin dempsey, the top u.s. official. the u.s. made clear that it has and wants to remain a key partner in the fight. particularly in places like western anbar. >> jane arraf in baghdad. >> australia, china and malaysia may need a new strategy for the missing malaysia airlines flight. if the underwater search turns up nothing by the end of may, it will go back to the drawing board. the plane disappeared on march 8th on a route from couple pure to beijing. all on board are assumed dead. >>> tomorrow two journalists from the al jazeera media group go on trial for the second time. mohamed fadel fahmy and baher mohamed return to court

in western anbar the u.s. military said it and it's iraqi partners have taken back the town offal al baghdadi. it is close to a military base where the u.s. and other coalition members operate. but sources on the ground there including provincial and local politicians tell us it has not been entirely freed. that there is still fighting going on around al baghdadi. that is all due to be discussed by general martin dempsey the top military officials who comes here for talks on how the fight against isil is going. as we've seen in tikrit, the u.s. has made clear that it has and wants to remain a key partner this fight. particularly in places like western anbar. >> political factions are meeting face to face and u.n.-backed peace talks in morocco. the european union said it will step up it's role in security issues. we have reports that libya's two rival government do appear to making some progress. >> libyan rival factions are closeer to clinking a political deal. they have agreed in principle on implementing a c

coalition air strikes have helped iraqi forces today, in particular in the anbar province.t's in western iraq where iraqi forceses have retaken control, and this is significant of al baghdadi. that may sound familiar because it's about faveive to seven miles outside of the al asad air base where they are training forces and where last month, you may remember, isis militants staged a ground attack, though they fought back because of the u.s. air strikes and the u.s. ground forces fighting back. so, again, retaking al baghdadi is an important and significant victory because anbar province largely remains under isis control. all that said, uma, we're still awaiting more word from general dempsey on the ground in iraq who has plenty to talk about obviously with iraqi commanders. uma? >> all right, john, thank you so much for that update from our middle east bureau. and this note, former defense in intelligence agency director michael flynn tells us that the white house may have missed the growing strength of isis because of the white house's desire to downplay the strength of a

control -- if they can get to anbar the places where our young men and women fought so hard for.they control those areas, they get much closer to israel. at the end of the day, i think the iranians want to be as close to israel as they can. it's so much easier to fire a missile at a shorter distance and not have to worry about it getting shot down. >> meanwhile the us continues its negotiations to get a nuclear arms deal with iran. much to the chagrin of the sunni countries. they're trying to calm their concerns about this. with the ultimate outcome, us lifting some of the sanctions against iran now but getting back to our original discussion. the us isn't involved because we weren't informed. it seems quite disorganized. at least to me. what's the us' best course of action with the moving parts of the netanyahu speech in congress. you could go on and on. >> lori, disorganize is a great word. we don't know what our strategy is with fighting isis. we really only talk about the iraq part of it. we don't talk about the iraqi security forces going into syria to also fight isis. the c

the figures exclude the casualties in anbar province, which is held by fighters from isil. >> meanwhile the iraqi foreign minister said there will be a renewed push against isil. >> residents are leaving the city in preparation for a major military offensive to take it back. tikrit 160 kilometers northwest of ball dad was one of the first cities taken over by isil, when they rolled into mosul in june. it's also a very personal fight for the iraqi military. it's near tikrit at the air base where isil killed more than 1,000 unarmed new recruits. their families here are still trying to locate their bodies. as in other fights, this will include u.s. air support iranian advisors, shia militias and sunni tribal fighters. it's part of the offensive that will eventually take back mosul. officials here and in the united states are increasingly cautious about when that major ground offensive will be. they are saying now it requires much more planning and a force perhaps a police force to take control over the major military operation is done. we spoke with prime minister al abadi about what that

control -- if they can get to anbar the places where our young men and women fought so hard for.they control those areas, they get much closer to israel. at the end of the day, i think the iranians want to be as close to israel as they can. it's so much easier to fire a missile at a shorter distance and not have to worry about it getting shot down. >> meanwhile the us continues its negotiations to get a nuclear arms deal with iran. much to the chagrin of the sunni countries. they're trying to calm their concerns about this. with the ultimate outcome, us lifting some of the sanctions against iran now but getting back to our original discussion. the us isn't involved because we weren't informed. it seems quite disorganized. at least to me. what's the us' best course of action with the moving parts of the netanyahu speech in congress. you could go on and on. >> lori, disorganize is a great word. we don't know what our strategy is with fighting isis. we really only talk about the iraq part of it. we don't talk about the iraqi security forces going into syria to also fight isis. the c

since she left anbar province. it is nottest for a widow with four young daughters and with a growing number of iraqis displaced as the iraqi government takes on i.s.i.l. there's less and less aid. aman ask a bit luckier than most after being helped to leave the town of baghdadi. the teachers there give her money to help pay the rent. more than $200 a month for this converted kitchen in a house. but she said she had no choice but to leave home. >> translator: no one came to tell us to leave. we left because there was no water and no electricity. there were a lot of families who left. i was afraid for children. >> reporter: her husband was a border guard. he was killed on an attack on his post three years ago. her father and her husband's parents stayed behind. she hasn't been able to reach them since. after school, she helps the girls with their lessons. her daughters are able to attend classes here. the tens of thousands of other displaced children don't have access to schools. the iraqi military and kurdish force

>> thank you senator and we do in fact have forces in anbar province today. we have fighting teams with the iraqi seventh division and a marine colonel who is the commander for special task force and focused on supporting general austen's counter isil efforts. in addition to developing those relationships in anbar province we have marines protecting embassy in baghdad and then also we provide the tactical recovery of aircraft and personal mission so we support the strikes both with carriers in the joint force are correct. we support the strikes to go into iraq and syria with the b-22 b-22 so if something did happen we would be in a position to recover aircraft personnel. >> thank thank you. thank you mr. chairman. >> thank you mr. chairman thank you mr. chairman. gentlemen thank you for your service. i'd like to follow up on what senator inhofe was discussing in particular admiral greenert you are responding to the mission's questions. this would be for both u.n. general dunford. your judgment are your munitions inventory sufficient to support current operati

air strikes in anbar the western province. but tikrit really is a show that's run by the iranian-backed militias, by the iraqis themselves, and the u.s. is very carefully stayed out of that. so the real test here isn't even so much can they take back the city because they are expected to? it's what happens after? how do they hold the city? and will people be confident that it's safe enough to come back given that there are concerns about revenge killings and ethnic cleansing as well. >> ifill: you mentioned anbar province. there is another complication on that front. a friendly fire incident. what can you tell bus that? >> reporter: well that one is murky. what we know is approximately 25 iraqi soldiers have been killed when what appears to be their military barracks were hit by an air strike. some iraqi officials have said it was a u.s. air strike. the u.s. has said it actually did launch an air strike in ramadi, but that it hit islamic state fighting positions, and it says it knows of no friendly fire casualties. so that lea

marines in anbar province there with the australians.h the portuguese we're helping to secure forces. unlike the iraq war of the last decade we are not outside of the wire. we're not in the field with the iraqi security forces. we're training them and advising them and assisting them on base and on secure facilities. nothing is zero risk but that is a procedure we're undertaking and think the operation in tikrit, there's been a lot of attention to it it's been similar to other operations. since the request came last week we've worked closely with them at the joint operations center to plan and identify targets which we began to take out but it will be iraqis going and fighting in the streets of tikrit. and the plan importantly, andrea andrea, once the area is clear, it's going to take a lot of time. once the area is cleared, security control will be turned over to local officials. the local officials, local police and those are of course primarily sunnis from the area. prime minister abadi called saudi arabia and said this is the program

the same thing we are being told by the anbar provincial council. conflicting statements of how much have been taken but backed by u.s. led air strikes perhaps not as dramatic as u.s. central command would like to indicate, shilly. >> tell us about the air strikes. there has been debate about how useful this are but in this case they seem to be pretty effective. >> reporter: i think it's clear, when the u.s. got into this they have been absolutely instrumental in this fight against i.s.i.l. there's no dispute among the iraqi military among the kurdish military that they could have made the gains they have unless there were air strikes. it's not the effectiveness of the air strikes it's where they're used and what role the u.s. is playing in this fight in general. i think it's important to note that the u.s. is making a big deal understandably about taking back baghdadi or most of baghdadi but still completely is not involved in the major fight the battle for tikrit, the one led by iranian backed shia militias. >>> fallujah in ann bauer province, 13

they have launched an assault and recaptured the city of tikrit in the anbar province. the iraqi defense ministry released footage of its air strikes. shiite militia members are helping in the effort. but progress has been slow. tikrit is the first major city that iraqi forces have attempted to recapture from isis in northern iraq. the militant group took over that region last year. >>> a woman who took to the streets in afghanistan to protest sexual harassment is now afraid for her life. this afghan performance artist says she's been molested many times. the first time she says she was just 4 years old. to protest how women are treated, she wore a suit of armor in a short demonstration. that demonstration not well-received. but she's not keeping quiet. >> if i am a good girl i shouldn't say to my mom or my brother or say anything in public. >> despite efforts to raise awareness, women are commonly victims of abuse in afghanistan. some girls are still sold into marriage. tomorrow marks international women's day. >>> the world health organization began large-scale testin

advances, and it controls down in the neighbouring anbar province. the iraqi army says taking tikrit is important as part of a long-term effort to retake mosul, the i.s.i.l. strong hold in iraq. >> our attacking force was backed by jet fighters. god willing we will defeat them. >> military would only last in the people believe the occupying force has their interests at heart. jordan's king abdullah urns his country to stand up to muslims, saying people that pose as muslims wreak terror and fake piety. it has ramped up campaigns against i.s.i.l. since a murder of a jordanian pilot >>> houthi rebels oppose talks from the yemeni capital sapper which they seized in disease. the fighting conditions. we have this report in aden. this is the aftermath of a car bomb attack. witnesses told al jazeera that a suicide bomber detonated a car interest a stadium. the city was taken over by the houthis two weeks ago. the tribes are opposed to the shia houthis coming from the north. they mobilized forces. the attacks on houthis are a regular occurrence. early on tues

especially in anbar. >> the government said that strikes killed 25 members of an armed group that has pledged allegiance to isil. all this as one of the country's most powerful militaries have seen a major shake up. >> the threat of bombing becoming more frequent for egyptians. this latest bomb killed one policeman and tore off legs and burned 20 others in the city of mahalla on friday. people across egypt deified the government man on protests with friday marchs. they called for an end to the military coup that led to president el-sisis of being elected. their chants could be heard throughout several districts and provinces. the protest comes on the heels of a shake up of the interior ministry. president el-sisi appointed a new interior minister. since 2014 amnesty international said that over 100 people have died in police stations alone. cause of death lack of medical care or torture. the human rights group said there is zero accountability for abuses committed at the hands of police forces. police stations and military posts have become common targets for bombings by armed groups.

to create, the people of mosul, the people of and bar would buy into the position -- the people of anbar would buy into the position to fight isis. >> whose fault is it? >> i do not want to level blame on people or individuals or groups, but there are definitely people who do not have an interest in reconciliation, who have interest. they are the minority, but they are leaving the various groups.% there are other groups who strongly believe in reconciliation. to develop reconciliation on the ground, to develop reconciliation and get the people united so people will be in charge of their destiny and fight isis and get rid of isis for good from iraq. this is not happening as yet. we are hoping as the war, the conflict is escalating that the government should step in very strongly in a very powerful way, to declare amnesty -- not for those staining their hands with the blood of the iraqi people but to get the people together on the same footing so they would buy infighting isis -- byuy in fighting isis. this is important. >> all right, we have to wrap it up there. thank you very much for ta

particularly in places like western anbar. >> there has been a violent weekend in egypt with the deadly bombing, nationwide protests and military airstrikes. the government said that the strikes kill 25 members of an armed group that has pledged allegiance to isil. all this as the country's most powerful ministries sees a major shake up. >> the there the of bombing has become more frequent. it bombing has killed many in the city of mahalla on friday. the friday marchs called for the end of a military coup that led to el-sisi being elect: their chants can be heard in several districts of cairo and other provinces. the protest come on the hills of a shake up. president el-sisi. they say 120 people have died at police stations alone. the cause of death the lack of medical help and torture. police stations and military posts have become targets for bombings by armed groups. during the u.n. human rights council meeting earlier this week the human rights chaser said that he believed that the ongoing assault on freedom of expression would only feed for violent extremism. egypt's foreign minist

fires will have a harder time getting to the anbar province. probably the most crucial key to the battle is if they win, how will they treat the sunni population there. tikrit is almost -- almost entirely predominantly sunni. this army going in, the iraqi army is predominantly she amp we'll be watching closely -- shia. we'll be watching closely how the army treats the civilians. a lot of them have fredled. will they treat them kindly and with respect. this will be watched by other sunni militias that are fighting isis around the country. if the shia predominantly shia iraqi army treats the inhabitants of the city poorly the militias who are fighting isis and other parts will take note of that as well. >> okay. so if the iraqi army succeeds in recapturing tikrit it tells you something about their chances of taking back mosul. also worth noting the u.s. isn't helping the iraqi army when it comes to taking back tikrit. ian lee from cairo. we appreciate it. thank you. errol? >>> isis supporters are threatening twitter's founder and its employees. t

clear that it has and wants to remain a key partner in this fight particularly in places like western anbar. >> the u.n. envoy to libya has warned all parties against carrying out attacks while sensitive negotiations are taking place in morocco. we go to the country's two rival governments appear to be making proking. >> factions have agreed on a road map to peace and stability in that country. it has been beset by violence and stability and civil war. basically they have agreed to form a national unity of government. then they will implement a peace fire across the country. they'll disband the militias, pull them out from the cities, set up a new national army that will take over security arrangements across the country. now, we have to wait and see what happens in the coming days because both delegations from east and west libya will travel back to their own areas consult with their governments if they get the go ahead they'll come back for a final agreement. this is very crucial for the international community. quite significant for the libyans as well. the feuding factions are not able

they were training together in the province of anbar for this military operation that is going on now. it was iranian commanders iranian guided militias, the iraq he army and the americans working closely together in this operation. so this is nothing new for the iraqis. what is new is that apparently there are iranian tanks surrounding tikrit and even entering the city. this is a symbolic act which is very much criticized here in baghdad. >> thanks very much. >> german chancellor angela merkel will not be attending a military parade in moscow to mark the defeat of nazi germany in world war ii. >> it seemed inappropriate to attend the parade in the russian capital. instead, she will be commemorating the liberation from the nazis by laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier one day later. >> amid growing tensions with russia over ukraine nato's secretary-general has laid out what the alliance is doing to reassure member countries that border russian territory. he outlined plans to set a new command centers in eastern europe and discuss the capabilities of nato's rapid reaction

says the death toll is probably higher because the figures exclude the casualties in anbar province held by i.s.i.l. fighters. >> are. >> live to baghdad. jane arraf is there to talk us through this one. interesting but terrible numbers, it is still the most violent place in the country. >> it is. it's baghdad, the capital, and the surrounding areas. those surrounding areas where i.s.i.l. tried to stage attacks on the capital. a lot of the attacks have gone on around there. what they call the baghdad belt surrounding the city. if we step back a stunning thing about the figure is that we have to remember that months after months for more than the past 10 years there's been this level of casualties there has been hundreds of thousands of iraqis dead. the other interesting matter is the fact that it was compiled at all. the u.n. was known for being cautious, but it insisted on making public the casualty tolls in a way that the iraqi government does not. >> further north to mosul. which is under the control of i.s.i.l., and is feature a lot in recent weeks. what is the government doing. is i

troops began amassing outside of the town in anbar province. they tried to push forward to the city of fallujah, which is just ten kilometers away. fallujah has been under isil control for months now. the advance has forced a growing number from their homes. it's a situation that aid agencies in iraq i is a will only get worst. jane arraf have reports from baghdad. >> this woman has been trying to get by on her own since she had to leave her home. the mattresses will help to cover her floors. it's not easy for a young widow with four young daughters. with the growing number of iraqis displaced as the glory government takes on isil there is less and less aid. she is a bit luckier than most after being held by the iraqi territory to leave the town, she found work as a school janitor. the teach efforts there help give her money to help pay the rent. more than $200 a month for a converted titch. but she said she had no choice. >> no one came to tell us to leave. we left because there was no water and no electricity. in there were families who left.

we do in fact have forces in anbar province today. we have a marine colonel who is the command of the task force. it is focused on supporting general austins counter isil efforts. in addition, to developing those relationships in the anbar province, we have marines protecting the embassy in baghdad. we also provide tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel missions. we support the strikes that go in both with carriers and the joint force aircraft. we support with the v 22, so if something did happen we would be in the position to cover aircraft and personnel. sen. mike rounds: thank you, mr. chairman. thank you for your service. i would like to follow up little bit on what senator and office enholf was discussing. you were responding to the munitions question. this would be for both you and general dunford. in your judgment, are your munitions inventories sufficient to support current operations and the defense strategic guidance plan? are their individual munitions whose inventories at present or projected that are insufficient? if

say that based on my testimony it is not clear to , me that the primary success you have shown in anbar has anything to do with the surge. you said that it is political. the reason for the success. not because of an increase in troop strength. we have seen some modest decline in sectarian violence inside baghdad as a consequence of our troop patrols. that has of course increased u.s. casualties. it is unsustainable. brian: put that into context. general bolger: it is interesting to see the president speaking as a senator. for one thing, he looks a lot younger in that picture. that tells you something. the president was on to something there. the last word is the key word. unsustainable. by definition, it is like a wave coming up on the beach. the surge of troops -- the majority of those troops in baghdad, what the president was referring to was something that had happened. what a president, at that time president obama, was referring to was something that had happened out in anbar. the sunni arab tribes split with al qaeda in iraq. killing women and children imposing very vicious sharia

the iraqi armies advance on isil-held positions troops have begun to amass outside of the town of anbar province, trying to push forward to the city of fallujah. fallujah has been under isil control for several months. [ gunfire ] meanwhile kurdish forces are attacking else positions in kirkuk in northern iraq. fighters have been advancing in several areas, seizing villages as they go. the city itself is under kurdish control, but isil still control some areas nearby. >>> and the influential iraqi shia cleric said that his militia will help in the offensive to recapture mosul from isil. his forces fought against the u.s. military after the 2003 invasion of iraq, but now his fighters may work with american forces. juan coal is an expert on middle eastern history and he asked that the u.s. not be involved in the campaign. >> this is not unprecedented. the peace brigades as they call them, i have been involved in operations in the past, last fall where the u.s. gave close air support, but he suspended his militia operations in mid-february after the assassination of sunni tribal leaders in

west along the euphrates for the most part has been somewhat abandoned over the past few years, the anbar prove inc. acknowledged it's a sanctuary for terrorism. what has happened in mosul and the region along the tigris is relatively new. >> i think the new government of prime minister abadi recognizes that not only for military reasons but for politicalngs reasons, he needs mosul back in the hands of the iraqi government. >> at least found people have been killed and dozens more hurt in churches in pakistani. taliban say they were behind the attacks which were in lahore? >> victory i can't gatenby reports. >> reporter: the pakistani taliban timed attacks to apparently cause maximum devastation. two churches were packed with cathlinse licks and protestants attending sunday services. there was chaos in the moment after the bombs exploded within minutes of each other. >> i was on guard inside. a small gate was opened. suddenly, a sound of the blast. the gate was turned away. all of these splashes of blood fell on my clothes. after that we got byrd with the regi u efforts. >> sunday's attac

one in anbar, are a test for the biggest battle to come in mosul. >> mosul represents a symbol.e we take it back, we would have killed their own ambition. >> reporter: and taking it back, the prime minister tells me will be on iraq's timetable, but says it could happen even before summer begins. martha raddatz, abc news, baghdad. >> our thanks to martha and to california now, where actor harrison ford is headed for a third night in the hospital. here's his vintage plane after it crashed into a golf course. the actor being called a hero for landing in a one clear spot in a crowded residential neighborhood. that accident giving ammunition to those who want to shut a nearby airport down. here's abc's nick watt with the story. >> reporter: a head wound, broken bones -- harrison ford is lucky to be alive. >> one plane down in the golf course. >> all units, make yourself available. >> reporter: and tonight, still no real indication of exactly what went wrong. >> there will be an attempt to talk with the pilot and -- because we definitely want to know what he knows. >> reporter: eye wi

this footage purportedly shows isil fighters stopping fighters from reaching a barracks in western anbar province. inry mad di city center, the commanders are triumphant. >> isil tried to enter the city from all four sides. the local police force in cooperation with the local fighters stopped them. we detonated their car bomb. >> an initiative is organized by the union of iraqi artists. >> all iraqis including artists should participate in this blood donation campaign. this is a simple thing i offer to my country. >> elsewhere, the prime minister told a crowd of students that forces fighting isil had made huge gains but said they also had to protect civilian life and property. >> there are infiltrators who want to commit crimes and serious violations. therefore, we have issued strict orders to the police, army commanders and to that popular mobilization forces. >> while the government insists its forces advancing in tikrit, the battle goes on. al jazeera. >> earlier, we spoke to a member of the baghdad local government who told us why he thought the iraqi military has been making progres

discuss here we have to remember that the main offensive going on right now isn't actually in western anbar where there is consistent fighting across that province in many places. it's in tikrit. tikrit is where more than 30,000 militia members, iraqi soldiers, are trying to cities lodge is ill from that city. one of the first that the group took after they took mosul last june. they are still not within the city limits. they are still not in tickit. there has been fighting around the edges. troops have made progress clearing towns and villages along the way. >> progress has been made without u.s. help. it's the iranians who are leading the fight there, particularly with the mali have been as they are controlling and that could be one of the thins that general dempsey will be discussing with iraqi officials here martin? >> jane arraf, thank you very much indeed. >> now the u.n. special envoy to libya has warned all parties against carrying out attacks while sensitive neckgotiations are taking place in morocco. it's reported the two rival governments appear to be making progress. >> libyan r

cover of bad weather, isil launched an attack on the town of al baghdadi, near the air base in al anbar where our forces are located with the danes and australians to help to train iraqi soldiers and tribal volunteers. isil as it has done over and over again rampaged through the town, killing civilians and driving hundreds of families into the safe haven of the air base. but the iraqis did not sit idle. they organized and fought back. the prime minister went to the joint operations center in baghdad and ordered an immediate counterattack. the minister of defense flew to al assad to organize available they organized and fought back. the prime minister went to the joint operations center in baghdad and ordered an immediate counterattack. forces and iraqi army commander sent an armored column from baghdad to road march to al baghdadi to join the attack. and sunni tribal volunteers organized to support and in some cases led the attack. today, much of al baghdadi is back in the hands of the local and tribal forces and as i was at al assad last month and my deputy was there just three days ag

the question of mosul or anbar we don't want to preview that, but we are working closely with iraqi leadersn an overall comprehensive campaign to kick isis out of their country. this will take some time. anchor: thank you for joining us. >> thank you so much. anchor: you are watching "bbc world news america." blasting off for a lengthy stay far away from home. where the american astronaut and russian cosmonaut plan to spend the next 12 months in space. and we have breaking news which is -- i'm sorry, about 6 million people in sierra leone have been told to stay indoors the next three days. the government is trying to stop the spread of ebola. sierra leone has a target of having less cases next month. over 10,000 people have died from the disease in west africa. here is our corresponded. reporter: this is not the first time citizens of sierra leone have been told to stay indoors as part of the fight against ebola. this is the capital freetown during a lock down in september. there are far fewer cases now than back then, dozens each week rather than hundreds, but this is seen as part of a fin

cover of bad weather, isil launched an attack on the town of al baghdadi, near the air base in al anbar where our forces are located with the danes and australians to help to train iraqi soldiers and tribal volunteers. isil as it has done over and over again rampaged through the town, killing civilians and driving hundreds of families into the safe haven of the air base. but the iraqis did not sit idle. they organized and fought back. the prime minister went to the joint operations center in baghdad and ordered an immediate counterattack. the minister of defense flew to al assad to organize available forces and iraqi army commander sent an armored column from baghdad to road march to al baghdadi to join the attack. and sunni tribal volunteers organized to support and in some cases led the attack. today, much of al baghdadi is back in the hands of the local and tribal forces and as i was at al assad last month and my deputy was there just three days ago, i would tell you that all americans would be proud to see what our troops are doing there, helping the iraqis and the tribes. this is o