From Learning English, this is In The News.

　　The United States military bombed Islamic State militants in northern Iraq on Friday. A Defense Department official said U.S. airplanes dropped laser-guided bombs on militant artillery positions near the city of Irbil. The Islamists reportedly had used the artillery against Iraqi Kurdish forces defending the city.

　　On Thursday, President Barack Obama ordered the U.S. military to carry out targeted airstrikes against the militants. The Islamic State was formerly known as ISIL -- the Islamic State of Syria and the Levant.

　　The president said the military operation is part of a combined effort to support Kurdish forces in the north. Another goal, he said, is to provide humanitarian aid to Iraqi civilians threatened by militant action.

　　Today I authorized two operations in Iraq: targeted air strikes to protect our American personnel, and a humanitarian effort to help save thousands of Iraqi civilians who are trapped on a mountain without food and water and facing almost certain death.

　　Humanitarian Crisis

　　Mr. Obama spoke hours after U.S. aircraft dropped humanitarian aid on Iraqs Mount Sinjar. Thousands of displaced Iraqis have been living there for days without food, water or shelter. They fled up the mountain to escape from the Islamic State militants.

　　The refugees are mainly Christians or members of the Yazidi religious group. The militants are Sunni Muslims. They have threatened to kill non-Muslims if they reject Islams teachings. They are also carrying out attacks on Muslims who are not Sunnis.

　　President Obama says the United States should act if it has the ability to avoid a humanitarian crisis.

　　We can act carefully and responsibly to prevent a potential act of genocide. Thats what were doing on that mountain. Ive therefore authorized targeted air strikes if necessary to help forces in Iraq as they fight to break the siege of Mount Sinjar and protect the civilians trapped there.

　　The president ordered air strikes against ISIL vehicles if they moved toward Irbil. He also approved strikes anywhere else in Iraq where the militants threaten American personnel and property.

　　On Friday, Britain expressed support for Mr. Obamas approval of air strikes. Defense Secretary Michael Fallon announced that his country would take part in the effort to aid Iraqi refugees.

　　The air strikes this week represent the biggest use of American military force in Iraq since U.S. troops withdrew from the country in . The Iraq War lasted more than eight years.

　　President Obama said on Thursday that he would not send ground troops back to Iraq. His administration has faced public pressure to avoid new involvement in foreign conflicts.

　　Militants Push Toward Kurdish Areas

　　In recent days, Islamic State forces and other militants have made gains against Kurdish forces in northern Iraq. The United States has a diplomatic office and military advisors in Irbil. The militants defeated the Kurdish forces in several towns. The group also says it has taken control of a major dam on the Tigris River. This would give militants control of power and water that supplies Baghdad.

　　Iraq Continues to Suffer from Political Problems

　　Iraqs ability to answer the militant offensive has been slowed by a political leadership dispute. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has faced repeated calls to leave office. His group won the most seats in a national election earlier this year, but efforts to form a new government have failed.

　　And thats In The News from Learning English.

　　Im Christopher Cruise.

　　詞匯講解：

　　1. operation n.操作，經營; 手術

　　例句：Recovery from a major operation?

　　你剛從一次大手術中康復過來?

　　2. provide vt. 提供，供給

　　例句：Messrs litan and schramm provide detailed answers.

　　利坦和施拉姆先生給出了詳細的答案。

　　3. threaten vt. 預示; 恐嚇; 危及

　　例句：This might threaten economic recovery.

　　這些措施可能會威脅經濟復蘇。

　　4. displace vt.移動，移走; 替換

　　例句：New technologies often fail to displace old ones.

　　新技術常常無法替代舊的技術。

　　5. avoid vt.避開，避免

　　例句：How can I avoid getting stung?

　　我怎么才能避免上當受騙?

　　6. approve vt. 贊成，同意

　　例句：It now takes months to approve plans for events.

　　現在單單批準活動計劃就需要幾個月。

　　7. announce vt.宣布; 述說

　　例句：Please announce to the children that there will be no school this afternoon.

　　請通知孩子們今天下午不上課。

　　8. election n.選舉，當選

　　例句：He defeated his opponents in this election.

　　他在這次選舉中擊敗了對手。

　　短語講解：

　　1. On Thursday, President Barack Obama ordered the U.S. military to carry out targeted airstrikes against the militants.

　　carry out 執行; 進行

　　例句：They should also carry out some fundamental reforms.

　　這些政府也應該執行一些基礎性的改革。

　　2. They fled up the mountain to escape from the Islamic State militants.

　　escape from 逃避; 逃出

　　例句：Drawing is a healthy way to escape from everyday life.

　　畫畫是我們逃離日常生活的一種健康的方式。

　　3. Defense Secretary Michael Fallon announced that his country would take part in the effort to aid Iraqi refugees.

　　take part in 參加，參與活動

　　例句：The community members who take part in the study circles.

　　參與這項研究會一部分工作的社區成員。

　　4. The group also says it has taken control of a major dam on the Tigris River.

　　take control of 控制

　　例句：There must be someone who can take control of these naughty children.

　　應該有人能管住這些淘氣的孩子。

　　From Learning English, this is In The News.

　　The United States military bombed Islamic State militants in northern Iraq on Friday. A Defense Department official said U.S. airplanes dropped laser-guided bombs on militant artillery positions near the city of Irbil. The Islamists reportedly had used the artillery against Iraqi Kurdish forces defending the city.

　　On Thursday, President Barack Obama ordered the U.S. military to carry out targeted airstrikes against the militants. The Islamic State was formerly known as ISIL -- the Islamic State of Syria and the Levant.

　　The president said the military operation is part of a combined effort to support Kurdish forces in the north. Another goal, he said, is to provide humanitarian aid to Iraqi civilians threatened by militant action.

　　Today I authorized two operations in Iraq: targeted air strikes to protect our American personnel, and a humanitarian effort to help save thousands of Iraqi civilians who are trapped on a mountain without food and water and facing almost certain death.

　　Humanitarian Crisis

　　Mr. Obama spoke hours after U.S. aircraft dropped humanitarian aid on Iraqs Mount Sinjar. Thousands of displaced Iraqis have been living there for days without food, water or shelter. They fled up the mountain to escape from the Islamic State militants.

　　The refugees are mainly Christians or members of the Yazidi religious group. The militants are Sunni Muslims. They have threatened to kill non-Muslims if they reject Islams teachings. They are also carrying out attacks on Muslims who are not Sunnis.

　　President Obama says the United States should act if it has the ability to avoid a humanitarian crisis.

　　We can act carefully and responsibly to prevent a potential act of genocide. Thats what were doing on that mountain. Ive therefore authorized targeted air strikes if necessary to help forces in Iraq as they fight to break the siege of Mount Sinjar and protect the civilians trapped there.

　　The president ordered air strikes against ISIL vehicles if they moved toward Irbil. He also approved strikes anywhere else in Iraq where the militants threaten American personnel and property.

　　On Friday, Britain expressed support for Mr. Obamas approval of air strikes. Defense Secretary Michael Fallon announced that his country would take part in the effort to aid Iraqi refugees.

　　The air strikes this week represent the biggest use of American military force in Iraq since U.S. troops withdrew from the country in . The Iraq War lasted more than eight years.

　　President Obama said on Thursday that he would not send ground troops back to Iraq. His administration has faced public pressure to avoid new involvement in foreign conflicts.

　　Militants Push Toward Kurdish Areas

　　In recent days, Islamic State forces and other militants have made gains against Kurdish forces in northern Iraq. The United States has a diplomatic office and military advisors in Irbil. The militants defeated the Kurdish forces in several towns. The group also says it has taken control of a major dam on the Tigris River. This would give militants control of power and water that supplies Baghdad.

　　Iraq Continues to Suffer from Political Problems

　　Iraqs ability to answer the militant offensive has been slowed by a political leadership dispute. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has faced repeated calls to leave office. His group won the most seats in a national election earlier this year, but efforts to form a new government have failed.

　　And thats In The News from Learning English.

　　Im Christopher Cruise.

　　詞匯講解：

　　1. operation n.操作，經營; 手術

　　例句：Recovery from a major operation?

　　你剛從一次大手術中康復過來?

　　2. provide vt. 提供，供給

　　例句：Messrs litan and schramm provide detailed answers.

　　利坦和施拉姆先生給出了詳細的答案。

　　3. threaten vt. 預示; 恐嚇; 危及

　　例句：This might threaten economic recovery.

　　這些措施可能會威脅經濟復蘇。

　　4. displace vt.移動，移走; 替換

　　例句：New technologies often fail to displace old ones.

　　新技術常常無法替代舊的技術。

　　5. avoid vt.避開，避免

　　例句：How can I avoid getting stung?

　　我怎么才能避免上當受騙?

　　6. approve vt. 贊成，同意

　　例句：It now takes months to approve plans for events.

　　現在單單批準活動計劃就需要幾個月。

　　7. announce vt.宣布; 述說

　　例句：Please announce to the children that there will be no school this afternoon.

　　請通知孩子們今天下午不上課。

　　8. election n.選舉，當選

　　例句：He defeated his opponents in this election.

　　他在這次選舉中擊敗了對手。

　　短語講解：

　　1. On Thursday, President Barack Obama ordered the U.S. military to carry out targeted airstrikes against the militants.

　　carry out 執行; 進行

　　例句：They should also carry out some fundamental reforms.

　　這些政府也應該執行一些基礎性的改革。

　　2. They fled up the mountain to escape from the Islamic State militants.

　　escape from 逃避; 逃出

　　例句：Drawing is a healthy way to escape from everyday life.

　　畫畫是我們逃離日常生活的一種健康的方式。

　　3. Defense Secretary Michael Fallon announced that his country would take part in the effort to aid Iraqi refugees.

　　take part in 參加，參與活動

　　例句：The community members who take part in the study circles.

　　參與這項研究會一部分工作的社區成員。

　　4. The group also says it has taken control of a major dam on the Tigris River.

　　take control of 控制

　　例句：There must be someone who can take control of these naughty children.

　　應該有人能管住這些淘氣的孩子。