Middle East Updates / U.S. Led 25 More Strikes Against ISIS in Iraq and Syria Since Monday

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Latest updates:

10:46 P.M. U.S. senator seeks formal declaration of war against ISIS

Republican Senator Rand Paul called on Congress to formally declare war on Islamic State, as debate intensified in the Senate and House of Representatives over the campaign in Iraq and Syria.

The Kentucky senator introduced a Senate resolution seeking to declare that a state of war exists with the militant group, the target of four months of air strikes by U.S. and allied forces.

"Right now, this war is illegal until Congress acts pursuant to the Constitution and authorizes it," Paul, a likely 2016 presidential contender, said in a statement.

Paul's resolution is unlikely to be brought up for a vote any time soon. (Reuters)

9:14 P.M. White House: U.S. remains opposed to cooperating with Iran against ISIS

The White House reiterated U.S. policy against cooperating with Iran in the fight against Islamic State on Wednesday in the wake of Iranian air strikes in Iraq.

"At this point our calculation about the wisdom of cooperating with the Iranians hasn't changed. We're not going to do it," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. (Reuters)

8:30 P.M. U.S. leads 25 more air strikes against Islamic State militants, says U.S. Central command

The United States military launched 14 more strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria and led 11 strikes in Iraq since Monday, according to U.S. Central command. The strikes in Syria, centered near the border town of Kobani, hit a large group of militant fighters as well as various fighting positions, Central Command said in a statement on Wednesday.

In Iraq, the U.S-led strikes in six cities - Mosul, Ramadi, Tal Afar, Sinjar, Qaim and Falluja - destroyed bunkers, buildings, vehicles and two weapon facilities for the militant group. They also struck several Islamic State fighting units, according to the statement. (Reuters)  

6:56 P.M. UN nuclear agency needs millions more for Iran monitoring

The UN nuclear agency says it will need an extra 4.6 million euros ($5.7 million) from members to fund extended intensive monitoring of Iran's nuclear program.

The International Atomic Energy Agency specifies that amount in a confidential note dated Wednesday and shared with The Associated Press.

IAEA chief Yukiya Amano is expected to ask the agency's 35 board members during a December 11 meeting for contributions to pay for further policing of Iran's compliance with an interim agreement capping nuclear programs that could be turned to military uses.

A comprehensive accord will replace that deal signed a year ago by Iran and six world powers. But newly extended talks failed to reach agreement last month, and the interim deal was extended.

Iran denies any interest in nuclear arms. (AP)

5:55 P.M. Al-Qaida claims attack on Iran envoy's house in Yemen

A car bomb planted by Al-Qaida militants exploded near the home of Iran's ambassador to Yemen, killing two people.

Iran's ambassador to Yemen, Hossein Niknam, was not at home when the bomb exploded at the residence in the capital, Sanaa, killing a security guard and his son, security officials said.The blast heavily damaged several nearby buildings and punched a hole into the residence.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian told the semi-official Tasnim news agency that the ambassador was unharmed.

"The Sanaa explosion didn't harm any Iranian diplomats. Only material damage was inflicted," Tasnim quoted Abdollahian as saying. (AP)

2:53 P.M. Assad: U.S.-led airstrikes not serious or efficient

Syrian President Bashar Assad said in remarks published Wednesday that U.S.-led airstrikes targeting Islamic State group militants in his country are neither serious nor efficient, claiming they have failed to produce any tangible results.

He also accused Turkey of continuing to provide direct support to the militants.

Assad spoke in a rare interview conducted Nov. 28 in Damascus with Paris Match magazine, his first in months. His comments critical of the U.S. airstrikes appear intended to give the impression that his forces are the most effective in fighting Islamic extremists.

"You can't end terrorism with aerial strikes. Troops on the ground that know the land and can react are essential," the magazine quoted Assad as saying. "That is why there haven't been any tangible results in the two months of strikes led by the coalition."

The full interview was expected to be published Thursday.

Both Assad's forces and the U.S. have been bombing Islamic State group targets in northern Syria, although U.S. officials say they don't coordinate strikes with his embattled government.

Assad said the U.S. strikes "would of course have helped had they been serious and efficient."

"We are running the ground battles against Daesh, and we have noticed no change, especially with Turkey providing direct support to these regions," he was quoted as saying, using an Arabic acronym for the group.

Assad has insisted throughout Syria's nearly 4-year-old conflict that he has been fighting foreign-inspired Islamic extremists and "terrorists" — not Syrians calling for reform and freedom. Activists say more than 200,000 people have been killed since March 2011.

Asked by the magazine about whether he was afraid of suffering the same demise as former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein or Libya's Moammar Gadhafi, Assad reportedly replied: "The captain doesn't think about death, or life, he thinks about saving his ship. If he thinks about sinking, everyone will die." (AP)

12:52 P.M. Kerry: U.S.-led efforts against ISIS having a 'significant impact'

The U.S.-led coalition has inflicted serious damage on ISIS, carrying out around 1,000 air strikes so far in Iraq and Syria, but the fight against the militants could last years, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday. (Reuters) Read the full story

12:47 P.M. Iran has never conducted air strikes against Islamic State in Iraq, official says

Iran has not launched any air strikes against Islamic State targets in neighboring Iraq, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday.

"Iran has never been involved in any air strikes against the Daesh (Islamic State) targets in Iraq. Any cooperation in such strikes with America is also out of question for Iran," the senior official said on condition of anonymity. (Reuters)

6:30 A.M. Iran has conducted airstrikes against ISIS forces in Iraq, a U.S. official confirmed Tuesday.

Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby was asked by reporters if the U.S. was aware of Iran's involvement over Iraq, following recent media reports of possible strikes by Iranian jets.

"We have the indications they have flown these missions in recent days in eastern Iraq," Kirby said in broadcast remarks.

The strikes were not coordinated with the U.S., and may be the first time Tehran has launched manned aircraft from inside Iran to strike Islamic State targets in Iraq, Kirby was quoted as saying by the Navy Times.

He said the U.S. would not take a position on the flights, saying it was Iraq's airspace and up to Iraq to decide who could fly over it.

"We ask that they do those things in keeping with the idea that we don't further inflame sectarian tensions inside Iraq," Kirby said.

He said the U.S. was aware that Baghdad has "communications" with Tehran about military activities.

Iran has offered help to the coalition against Islamic State but its request was refused by the U.S., which has vowed it would not coordinate with Iran on military actions inside Iraq.

Washington is concerned that Iran, which backs the majority Shiite government, will provoke further resentment among Iraq's Sunni minority. (DPA)