Iraq's Goal: Retake Country by End of 2015

The US is working with Iraq on a plan for the government to push ISIS out of the Iraqi part of its self-declared Islamic State by the end of next year. As atrocities including the public execution of dozens of men, women, and children continue, a major offensive is being planned for next spring that will involve Iraqi troops assisted by American advisers and aircraft, officials tell the New York Times. Officials say the plan—which will require training tens of thousands of fresh troops—will be to isolate the group in its strongholds before retaking cities like Mosul. For now, airstrikes on ISIS targets by the US-led coalition continue, with Canadian warplanes launching their first strikes near Fallujah yesterday, the AP reports. (More ISIS stories.)