US Conducts Fresh airstrikes Against Islamic State to Protect Haditha Dam

The United States conducted four air strikes against the Islamic State in Iraq on Sunday. The strikes were carried out near the Haditha dam in Iraq to deter the Islamic State from taking control of the dam.

Haditha dam is Iraq's second biggest hydroelectric facility that also provides water to millions of people.­­

The leader of a pro-Iraqi government paramilitary force in western Iraq said that the air strikes wrought great destruction to an Islamic State unit trying to take over the dam.

"They (the air strikes) were very accurate. There was no collateral damage ... If Islamic State had gained control of the dam, many areas of Iraq would have been seriously threatened, even (the capital) Baghdad," Sheik Ahmed Abu Risha told Reuters.

The strikes conducted by a combination of fighter and bomber aircrafts destroyed five Islamic State Humvees and one of its armed vehicles. It also destroyed an Islamic State checkpoint and one of its bunkers, the U.S. military said.

The US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the attacks were conducted at the request of the Iraqi government.

He said that if the dam was destroyed or if it fell in to Islamic State hands, the harm that would result would be very substantial and it would put more risk in to the mix in Iraq.

The Iraqi Army also started a ground operation after the airstrikes were started by the U.S. jets. The Iraqi counterterrorism forces which led the attack were supported by the Iraqi army, police and allied tribesmen, reports The Washington Post.

The US airstrikes come at a time when Iran has blamed the US for not taking the threat from the Islamic state seriously.

 "There is still no serious understanding about the threat and they have as yet taken no serious action," said Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, reports The Telegraph.

Iran and U.S. both share a common interest in Iraq as they support Shia leader Haider al Abai to become the Prime minister.

On the other hand, both the countries differ in their stand regarding Syria. While Iran funds the government of Bashar al Assad, the US supports the opposition.