US military Conducts 14 Airstrikes in Iraq

After the Islamic State militants released the video showing the beheading of the U.S. journalist James Foley, U.S aircrafts conducted 14 airstrikes near Mosul Dam in northern Iraq, the defense department  revealed Wednesday, reports  Fox News. 

The attacks destroyed six militant Humvees, three improvised explosive device emplacements, one mortar tube and two armed trucks, according to the U.S. Central Command officials, The Washington Post reported.

The U.S. is planning to send almost 300 personnel to Iraq in order provide more security in and around Baghdad at the request of the State Department, a senior US official said.

He added that no final decision has been taken on the matter.

Reacting to the video showing the killing of journalist James Foley, President Obama, who is vacationing in Martha's Vineyard, called for  vigilant and relentless efforts against the Islamic State militants.

Obama said that the video showing Foley's death shocks the conscience and vowed to carry on the fight against the Islamic State. 

James Foley's execution marks the first time that the Islamic State has killed a U.S. citizen since the Syrian conflict  started in March 2011.

"America got a glimpse of exactly who they are,"  House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers said.  "This is a group you need to deal with," he added.

The Islamic State had posted a video Tuesday showing the beheading of U.S. journalist James Foley.

The video starts with scenes of Obama elucidating on the decision to order airstrikes. Next, Foley wearing an orange jumpsuit is shown kneeling in a desert. Beside him, stands  a militant wearing a black dress holding a knife to Foley's throat. Foley's name is shown in both English and Arabic on the screen.

Foley then tells that when the United States started dropping bombs in Iraq this month, they signed his death certificate.

"I call on my friends, family and loved ones to rise up against my real killers - the U.S. government - for what will happen to me is only a result of their complacent criminality," Foley says in the video.

After this, the militant is shown cutting at his neck and the video fades away. In the end, Foley is shown lying dead on the ground.