At least 17 Iraqi soldierse have been killed by a series of suicide attacks in and around Fallujah in Anbar province.
At the same time, UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says Islamic State fighters have been driven from Syrian Christian villages in the north and east of that country.
With U.S. and coalition forces facing criticism for their apparent lack of strategy in combating the expansion of the Islamic State, U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesman Jeff Rathke (rath-KEY) promised Washington's support remains firm
IN: "We are encouraged....
OUT: ...their country."
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