targets in rafah. this statement was released: john kirby went on to say: . >> let's go to our correspondent imran khan, joining us live from the iraqi capital baghdad now. imran, how will the u.s. air strikes in syria be received by the iraqi government? >> well, the official line is that they will be welcomed. the iraqies said in order to defeat i.s.i.l. in iraq you need to go after the safe haven in syria, and that is what exactly has happened. we haven't had an official reaction. it's unlikely we'll have an official reaction. iraqi military analysts and those in the security and defense forces will be watching to see what happens next. here in iraq - there's a difference between iraq and syria when it comes to the air strikes. in iraq, when the air strikes happen, we have had examples of these in amerli and the sinjar mountains, where the air strikes happen and ground forces from the kurdish and iraqi forces went in and cleared areas of i.s.i.l. fighters. they are unavailable in iraq. the syrian re

targets in rafah. this statement was released: john kirby went on to say: . >> let's go to our correspondent imran khan, joining us live from the iraqi capital baghdad now. imran, how will the u.s. air strikes in syria be received by the iraqi government? >> well, the official line is that they will be welcomed. the iraqies said in order to defeat i.s.i.l. in iraq you need to go after the safe haven in syria, and that is what exactly has happened. we haven't had an official reaction. it's unlikely we'll have an official reaction. iraqi military analysts and those in the security and defense forces will be watching to see what happens next. here in iraq - there's a difference between iraq and syria when it comes to the air strikes. in iraq, when the air strikes happen, we have had examples of these in amerli and the sinjar mountains, where the air strikes happen and ground forces from the kurdish and iraqi forces went in and cleared areas of i.s.i.l. fighters. they are unavailable in iraq. the syrian re

targets in rafah. this statement was released: john kirby went on to say:. >> let's go to our correspondent imran khan, joining us live from the iraqi capital baghdad now. imran, how will the u.s. air strikes in syria be received by the iraqi government? >> well, the official line is that they will be welcomed. the iraqies said in order to defeat i.s.i.l. in iraq you need to go after the safe haven in syria, and that is what exactly has happened. we haven't had an official reaction. it's unlikely we'll have an official reaction. iraqi military analysts and those in the security and defense forces will be watching to see what happens next. here in iraq - there's a difference between iraq and syria when it comes to the air strikes. in iraq, when the air strikes happen, we have had examples of these in amerli and the sinjar mountains, where the air strikes happen and ground forces from the kurdish and iraqi forces went in and cleared areas of i.s.i.l. fighters. they are unavailable in iraq. the syrian reb

rafah is behind me. turkey doesn't want the complex spilling over here. the i.s.i.s. is holding more than 40 turks hostage. playing a role in a u.s.-led military campaign to push back i.s. forces could result in the i.s. taking out revenge on the turkish hospitals. they have plenty of reminders of the human cost of the conflict. like dozens of turkish towns and cities, it hosts hundreds, if not thousands escaping from the fighting. >> there's no life in rafah. people are tired. the islamic state took everything and controls everything in the city. there's no money, no work. >> u.s. officials said they understand turkey's unique position as the only muslim majority country in n.a.t.o. being close to the conflict, discrete cooperation is viewed as essential, if the cal pain against the islamic state group is to have a chance of success. >>> al jazeera continues to demand the release of its three journalists. egypt detained peter greste, mohamed fadel fahmy and baher mohamed for 258 days. they are accused of aiding the muslim brotherhood, charges seen as politically moti

people in syria, government forces launched a series of air strikes on the islamic state group in rafah, and there has been fighting. rebels are in control of towns in the area. omar al saleh reports. >> reporter: fierce battles in the country side. after controlling the only border crossing in the area, opposition fighters want to cease more military posts, belonging to the syrian army's 90th brigade. >> translation: our aim is to control a number of posts, we liberated three important post already. the fighters want to cut off the government supplies route between the western side of damascus, and secure a life line for forces under siege for months in the area. they aim to bolster the control on the western side of daara. it's not an easy fight. government troops are still holding on their positions, meaning the battle could track on for days or weeks. the rebel gains made recently is providing the fighters with a feeling of momentum. the goal of the battle is to open a route to the country side. in other parts of syria government forces gain the upper hand, and had beens the syrian

it locals heard an exodus happened in rafah. the islamic state of iraq and levant. there has been a flow of aid and supplies crossing into syria, sense the border was open in 2013. since the american president announced that the bombing campaign in iraq was to extend to syria, an enormous amount of were trying to leave the stronghold, and the obvious place to cross to safe havens was here. >> the kurdish rebel group controls the nearby corner of syria. the islamic state fighters are pushing hard to clear a root from rafah, giving them a direct supply line all the way to mosul, their stronghold in iraq. >> there was a huge battle. we ran leaving it deserted. from what i see, the islamic state forces are strong. they have big weapons, the ypg are managing to defend the areas so far. >> reporter: but hammon is against the air strikes because ordinary people will suffer >> translation: i do not accept that this is right. it will kill normal people. the rich people will get out, the poor will be underneath. >> reporter: they know when an air assault is coming, and what t

andrew simmons reports from rafah. >> reporter: delivery runs like this are as crucial now as they werewar. aid agencies still providing a lifeline for 10s of thousands of people. this is free drinking water that is filtered and safe. for those returning to damagedded homes, even when the water supply is working there is often no electrician are tries at this to pump top from ankles -- electricity to pump top from wells. gaza's only power station had been hit reportedly by israeli shells. the treatment man was destroyed a long within generator and purchase bine damage. turbine damage it will take a year to fix and will only provide a portion of the power that was needed. it only had the capacity to give gaza 60% of its power. some of the shortfall made up by supplies from israel and egypt. >> it was a cal catastrophic situation before war. right now it's more much severe. >> reporter: without a constant power supply, gaza's sewage still going untreated. the coastline is being polluted with outlets like this, pumping out raw sewage 24 hours a day. aside from that, there is a health risk

much the focus in pushing the terrorist groups out of iraq, and also to handle the strongholds in rafah. the involvement of the arab states, to control the - to cooperate them and control the funding. putting down the radical gots and basically do something about marmginializing and mitigating the issues, hitting on it. one should not see that these efforts, as if this campaign is supporting bashar al-assad, it is specifically targetting the radicals, and one should accommodate the moderates, to establish a long-lasting piece in the middle east. >> thank you very much. good to hear. from the brookings doha center. >>> now, three al jazeera journalists have been detained in egypt for 256 days, accused of aiding the banned muslim brotherhood. peter greste, mohamed fadel fahmy and baher mohamed received long sentences after a trial seen by many observers as politically motivated. they are appealing their convictions and al jazeera is continuing to demand their relief. >>> european sanctions against russia could make life hardest for europe's largest economy, germany. exporters say they sup

andrew simmonds reports from rafah. >> reporter: delivery runs like this are as crucial now as they weren the war. aid agencies are providing a life line. this is clean drinking water - filtered and safe. those returning to damaged homes, when the water supply is working, there's no electricity to pump it from fangs and wells. gaza's only -- tanks and wells. gaza's only power station was hit by shells and bombs. the treatment plant was also destroyed and turbines were damaged. repairs will take a years, and a temporary fix will offer a fraction of the power needed. before the war it had the capacity to give gaza 60% of its power. some of the shortfall made up of plies by israel and egypt. it was a kat as strofic relationship before the war. now it will be more severe. without a constant power supply, sewerage is untreated. outlets pump out raw sewage like this, 24 hours a day. there's a health risk from bomb damage to suers. >> this area was filled with raw sewerage, sinking deep through the sand. nothing could be done to repair the pipe or treat the sewerage for a whole month. there are