Advertisement

  1. National

Iraqi forces reach jihadist-besieged town of Amerli

Iraqi forces have broken through the Islamic State-besieged town of Amerli where thousands of people were trapped for over two months, according to news agency AFP.

Security spokesman Lieutenant General Qassem Atta told AFP: "Our forces entered Amerli and broke the siege".

RAF transport planes took part in a humanitarian air drop to the town last night, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said.

US aircraft also launched airstrikes against IS fighters near the besieged town.

View all 113 updates ›

'More Brits favour wiping out IS' after beheading video

More than a third (35%) of Brits now feel the Government should take action to destroy radical group Islamic State - up significantly since a video was released appearing to show the beheading of US journalist James Foley.

A video released by IS appeared to show the beheading of US journalist James Foley. Credit: Nicole Tung

The latest Comres/ITV News Index shows a 15 percentage point increase since last week in the proportion of people favouring British action to wipe out IS.

The option is now the most popular potential response to the militants among Brits, according to the polling.

Of the 2,062 people asked how the British government should respond to IS, less than a quarter now say Britain should avoid any involvement.

  • 35% (+15) said Britain should seek to defeat IS in its entirety
  • 23% (-6) said Britain should seek to stop IS making further gains in Iraq, Syria or elsewhere
  • 22% (-8) said Britain should not get involved and leave the situation to run its course
  • 20% (-1) said they did not know
  1. Read more
  2. 113 updates
Iraqi forces reach jihadist-besieged town of Amerli

More on this story