Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Washington, The United States has welcomed a decision from Canada’s parliament to authorize airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq.
The measure approved Tuesday backs the airstrikes for up to six months. It also prohibits the use of ground forces in any combat operations.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said his government does not take the decision lightly, but that the Islamic State group poses a real threat.
He said the U.S.-led coalition must act to stop the group from spreading and to keep it from being able to launch attacks outside the region.
A White House statement said the United States will work with its partners to “expand our sustained and comprehensive approach to degrade and ultimately destroy” the Islamic State group.
Meanwhile, the United Nations special envoy to Syria is warning that Kurdish fighters defending the northern city of Kobani, also called Ayn al-Arab, are very close to no longer being able to fight off the militants.
Staffan de Mistura said Tuesday the Kurds are fighting with great courage, but that the international community needs to come to their defense. He said other cities that have fallen into Islamic State hands suffer through massacres, rapes, and horrific violence.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said bombs are not enough and a major ground offensive is needed. The Turks have so far shown no signs they are prepared to send forces across the border into Syria.
The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the three-week long battle for control of Kobani has killed at least 400 people so far.
