Pentagon: There are 'indications' that Iran may have bombed ISIS in Iraq

By Ben Brumfield, CNN

Updated 1:06 PM ET, Wed December 3, 2014

A Kurdish marksman looks over a destroyed area of Kobani, Syria, on Friday, January 30. Kobani, also known as Ayn al-Arab, had been under assault by ISIS since mid-September.
The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
A Kurdish marksman looks over a destroyed area of Kobani, Syria, on Friday, January 30. Kobani, also known as Ayn al-Arab, had been under assault by ISIS since mid-September.
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Smoke billows in the background as Kurdish Peshmerga fighters take position in Kirkuk, Iraq, on January 30.
The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
Smoke billows in the background as Kurdish Peshmerga fighters take position in Kirkuk, Iraq, on January 30.
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Relatives of Moaz al-Kassasbeh, a Jordanian pilot who was captured in December by ISIS militants, protest in front of the Royal Palace in Amman, Jordan, on Wednesday, January 28. ISIS has threatened to kill al-Kassasbeh and Japanese hostage Kenji Goto if Jordan does not release Sajida al-Rishawi, a convicted would-be suicide bomber.
The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
Relatives of Moaz al-Kassasbeh, a Jordanian pilot who was captured in December by ISIS militants, protest in front of the Royal Palace in Amman, Jordan, on Wednesday, January 28. ISIS has threatened to kill al-Kassasbeh and Japanese hostage Kenji Goto if Jordan does not release Sajida al-Rishawi, a convicted would-be suicide bomber.
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Kurdish people celebrate in Suruc, Turkey, near the Turkish-Syrian border, after ISIS militants were expelled from Kobani, Syria, on Tuesday, January 27.
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Kurdish people celebrate in Suruc, Turkey, near the Turkish-Syrian border, after ISIS militants were expelled from Kobani, Syria, on Tuesday, January 27.
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Collapsed buildings are seen in Kobani on January 27 after Kurdish forces took control of the town from ISIS. ISIS has been making advances in Iraq and Syria as it seeks to create an Islamic caliphate in the region.
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Collapsed buildings are seen in Kobani on January 27 after Kurdish forces took control of the town from ISIS. ISIS has been making advances in Iraq and Syria as it seeks to create an Islamic caliphate in the region.
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Junko Ishido, mother of Japanese journalist Kenji Goto, reacts during a news conference in Tokyo on Friday, January 23. ISIS has already claimed to kill another Japanese hostage, Haruna Yukawa.
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Junko Ishido, mother of Japanese journalist Kenji Goto, reacts during a news conference in Tokyo on Friday, January 23. ISIS has already claimed to kill another Japanese hostage, Haruna Yukawa.
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ISIS militants are seen through a rifle's scope during clashes with Peshmerga fighters in Mosul, Iraq, on Wednesday, January 21.
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ISIS militants are seen through a rifle's scope during clashes with Peshmerga fighters in Mosul, Iraq, on Wednesday, January 21.
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An elderly Yazidi arrives in Kirkuk, Iraq, on Saturday, January 17, after being released by ISIS. The militant group released about 200 Yazidis who were held captive for five months in Iraq. Almost all of the freed prisoners were in poor health and bore signs of abuse and neglect, Kurdish officials said.
The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
An elderly Yazidi arrives in Kirkuk, Iraq, on Saturday, January 17, after being released by ISIS. The militant group released about 200 Yazidis who were held captive for five months in Iraq. Almost all of the freed prisoners were in poor health and bore signs of abuse and neglect, Kurdish officials said.
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An identification card lies in the dirt in the Hardan village in northern Iraq on Monday, December 22. A handful of Yazidis who fled when ISIS overran the town in August returned after Kurdish fighters drove the extremists out.
The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
An identification card lies in the dirt in the Hardan village in northern Iraq on Monday, December 22. A handful of Yazidis who fled when ISIS overran the town in August returned after Kurdish fighters drove the extremists out.
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Smoke billows behind an ISIS sign during an Iraqi military operation to regain control of the town of Sadiyah, about 95 kilometers (60 miles) north of Baghdad, on Tuesday, November 25.
The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
Smoke billows behind an ISIS sign during an Iraqi military operation to regain control of the town of Sadiyah, about 95 kilometers (60 miles) north of Baghdad, on Tuesday, November 25.
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Fighters from the Free Syrian Army and the Kurdish People's Protection Units join forces to fight ISIS in Kobani on Wednesday, November 19.
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Fighters from the Free Syrian Army and the Kurdish People's Protection Units join forces to fight ISIS in Kobani on Wednesday, November 19.
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A picture taken from Turkey shows smoke rising after ISIS militants fired mortar shells toward an area controlled by Syrian Kurdish fighters near Kobani on Monday, November 3.
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A picture taken from Turkey shows smoke rising after ISIS militants fired mortar shells toward an area controlled by Syrian Kurdish fighters near Kobani on Monday, November 3.
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Iraqi special forces search a house in Jurf al-Sakhar, Iraq, on Thursday, October 30, after retaking the area from ISIS.
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Iraqi special forces search a house in Jurf al-Sakhar, Iraq, on Thursday, October 30, after retaking the area from ISIS.
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ISIS militants stand near the site of an airstrike near the Turkey-Syria border on Thursday, October 23. The United States and several Arab nations have been bombing ISIS targets in Syria to take out the militant group's ability to command, train and resupply its fighters.
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ISIS militants stand near the site of an airstrike near the Turkey-Syria border on Thursday, October 23. The United States and several Arab nations have been bombing ISIS targets in Syria to take out the militant group's ability to command, train and resupply its fighters.
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Kurdish fighters walk to positions as they combat ISIS forces in Kobani on Sunday, October 19.
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Kurdish fighters walk to positions as they combat ISIS forces in Kobani on Sunday, October 19.
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A U.S. Air Force plane flies above Kobani on Saturday, October 18.
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A U.S. Air Force plane flies above Kobani on Saturday, October 18.
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Heavy smoke rises in Kobani following an airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition on October 18.
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Heavy smoke rises in Kobani following an airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition on October 18.
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Cundi Minaz, a female Kurdish fighter, is buried in a cemetery in the southeastern Turkish town of Suruc on Tuesday, October 14. Minaz was reportedly killed during clashes with ISIS militants in nearby Kobani.
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Cundi Minaz, a female Kurdish fighter, is buried in a cemetery in the southeastern Turkish town of Suruc on Tuesday, October 14. Minaz was reportedly killed during clashes with ISIS militants in nearby Kobani.
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Turkish police officers secure a basketball stadium in Suruc on October 14. Some Syrian Kurds were held there after crossing from Syria into Turkey. Tens of thousands of people fled Kobani to escape ISIS.
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Turkish police officers secure a basketball stadium in Suruc on October 14. Some Syrian Kurds were held there after crossing from Syria into Turkey. Tens of thousands of people fled Kobani to escape ISIS.
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Kiymet Ergun, a Syrian Kurd, celebrates in Mursitpinar, Turkey, after an airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition in Kobani on Monday, October 13.
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Kiymet Ergun, a Syrian Kurd, celebrates in Mursitpinar, Turkey, after an airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition in Kobani on Monday, October 13.
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Alleged ISIS militants stand next to an ISIS flag atop a hill in Kobani on Monday, October 6.
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Alleged ISIS militants stand next to an ISIS flag atop a hill in Kobani on Monday, October 6.
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In this photo released by the U.S. Air Force on Saturday, October 4, a U.S. Navy jet is refueled in Iraqi airspace after conducting an airstrike against ISIS militants.
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In this photo released by the U.S. Air Force on Saturday, October 4, a U.S. Navy jet is refueled in Iraqi airspace after conducting an airstrike against ISIS militants.
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A Kurdish Peshmerga soldier who was wounded in a battle with ISIS is wheeled to the Zakho Emergency Hospital in Duhuk, Iraq, on Tuesday, September 30.
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A Kurdish Peshmerga soldier who was wounded in a battle with ISIS is wheeled to the Zakho Emergency Hospital in Duhuk, Iraq, on Tuesday, September 30.
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Syrian Kurds wait near a border crossing in Suruc as they wait to return to their homes in Kobani on Sunday, September 28.
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Syrian Kurds wait near a border crossing in Suruc as they wait to return to their homes in Kobani on Sunday, September 28.
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Tomahawk missiles, intended for ISIS targets in Syria, fly above the Persian Gulf after being fired by the USS Philippine Sea in this image released by the U.S. Navy on Tuesday, September 23.
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Tomahawk missiles, intended for ISIS targets in Syria, fly above the Persian Gulf after being fired by the USS Philippine Sea in this image released by the U.S. Navy on Tuesday, September 23.
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Turkish Kurds clash with Turkish security forces during a protest near Suruc on Monday, September 22. According to <a href="http://time.com/3423522/turkey-syria-isis-isil-refugees/" target="_blank">Time magazine</a>, the protests were over Turkey's temporary decision to close the border with Syria.
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Turkish Kurds clash with Turkish security forces during a protest near Suruc on Monday, September 22. According to Time magazine, the protests were over Turkey's temporary decision to close the border with Syria.
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Syrian Kurds fleeing ISIS militants wait behind a fence in Suruc on Sunday, September 21.
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Syrian Kurds fleeing ISIS militants wait behind a fence in Suruc on Sunday, September 21.
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A elderly man is carried after crossing the Syria-Turkey border near Suruc on Saturday, September 20.
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A elderly man is carried after crossing the Syria-Turkey border near Suruc on Saturday, September 20.
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A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter launches mortar shells toward ISIS militants in Zumar, Iraq, on Monday, September 15.
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A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter launches mortar shells toward ISIS militants in Zumar, Iraq, on Monday, September 15.
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Kurdish Peshmerga fighters fire at ISIS militant positions from their position on the top of Mount Zardak, east of Mosul, Iraq, on Tuesday, September 9.
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Kurdish Peshmerga fighters fire at ISIS militant positions from their position on the top of Mount Zardak, east of Mosul, Iraq, on Tuesday, September 9.
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Iraqi volunteer fighters celebrate breaking the Amerli siege on Monday, September 1. ISIS militants had surrounded Amerli, 70 miles north of Baquba, Iraq, since mid-June.
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Iraqi volunteer fighters celebrate breaking the Amerli siege on Monday, September 1. ISIS militants had surrounded Amerli, 70 miles north of Baquba, Iraq, since mid-June.
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Kurdish Peshmerga forces stand guard at their position in the Omar Khaled village west of Mosul on Sunday, August 24.
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Kurdish Peshmerga forces stand guard at their position in the Omar Khaled village west of Mosul on Sunday, August 24.
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Kurdish Peshmergas fight to regain control of the town of Celavle, in Iraq's Diyala province, on August 24.
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Kurdish Peshmergas fight to regain control of the town of Celavle, in Iraq's Diyala province, on August 24.
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Peshmerga fighters stand guard at Mosul Dam in northern Iraq on Thursday, August 21. With the help of U.S. military airstrikes, Kurdish and Iraqi forces<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/18/world/meast/iraq-mosul-dam/index.html"> retook the dam</a> from ISIS militants on August 18. A breach of the dam would have been catastrophic for millions of Iraqis who live downstream from it.
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Peshmerga fighters stand guard at Mosul Dam in northern Iraq on Thursday, August 21. With the help of U.S. military airstrikes, Kurdish and Iraqi forces retook the dam from ISIS militants on August 18. A breach of the dam would have been catastrophic for millions of Iraqis who live downstream from it.
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Displaced Iraqis receive clothes from a charity at a refugee camp near Feeshkhabour, Iraq, on Tuesday, August 19.
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Displaced Iraqis receive clothes from a charity at a refugee camp near Feeshkhabour, Iraq, on Tuesday, August 19.
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Peshmerga fighters inspect the remains of a car that reportedly belonged to ISIS militants and was targeted by a U.S. airstrike in the village of Baqufa, north of Mosul, on August 18.
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Peshmerga fighters inspect the remains of a car that reportedly belonged to ISIS militants and was targeted by a U.S. airstrike in the village of Baqufa, north of Mosul, on August 18.
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Kurdish Peshmerga fighters fire at ISIS in Khazair, Iraq, on Thursday, August 14.
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Kurdish Peshmerga fighters fire at ISIS in Khazair, Iraq, on Thursday, August 14.
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Aziza Hamid, a 15-year-old Iraqi girl, cries for her father while she and some other Yazidi people are flown to safety Monday, August 11, after a dramatic rescue operation at Iraq's Mount Sinjar. A CNN crew was on the flight, which took diapers, milk, water and food to the site where as many as 70,000 people were trapped by ISIS. But only a few of them were able to fly back on the helicopter with the Iraqi Air Force and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters.
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Aziza Hamid, a 15-year-old Iraqi girl, cries for her father while she and some other Yazidi people are flown to safety Monday, August 11, after a dramatic rescue operation at Iraq's Mount Sinjar. A CNN crew was on the flight, which took diapers, milk, water and food to the site where as many as 70,000 people were trapped by ISIS. But only a few of them were able to fly back on the helicopter with the Iraqi Air Force and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters.
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Thousands of Yazidis are escorted to safety by Kurdish Peshmerga forces and a People's Protection Unit in Mosul on Saturday, August 9.
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Thousands of Yazidis are escorted to safety by Kurdish Peshmerga forces and a People's Protection Unit in Mosul on Saturday, August 9.
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Thousands of Yazidi and Christian people flee Mosul on Wednesday, August 6, after the latest wave of ISIS advances.
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Thousands of Yazidi and Christian people flee Mosul on Wednesday, August 6, after the latest wave of ISIS advances.
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A Baiji oil refinery burns after an alleged ISIS attack in northern Selahaddin, Iraq, on Thursday, July 31.
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A Baiji oil refinery burns after an alleged ISIS attack in northern Selahaddin, Iraq, on Thursday, July 31.
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A Syrian rebel fighter lies on a stretcher at a makeshift hospital in Douma, Syria, on Wednesday, July 9. He was reportedly injured while fighting ISIS militants.
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A Syrian rebel fighter lies on a stretcher at a makeshift hospital in Douma, Syria, on Wednesday, July 9. He was reportedly injured while fighting ISIS militants.
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Peshmerga fighters clean their weapons at a base in Tuz Khormato on June 25.
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Peshmerga fighters clean their weapons at a base in Tuz Khormato on June 25.
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New army recruits gather in Najaf, Iraq, on Wednesday, June 18, following a call for Iraqis to take up arms against Islamic militant fighters.
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New army recruits gather in Najaf, Iraq, on Wednesday, June 18, following a call for Iraqis to take up arms against Islamic militant fighters.
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Kurdish Peshmerga forces, along with Iraqi special forces, deploy their troops and armored vehicles outside of Kirkuk, Iraq, on June 12.
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Kurdish Peshmerga forces, along with Iraqi special forces, deploy their troops and armored vehicles outside of Kirkuk, Iraq, on June 12.
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Children stand next to a burnt vehicle during clashes between Iraqi security forces and ISIS militants in Mosul on Tuesday, June 10.
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Children stand next to a burnt vehicle during clashes between Iraqi security forces and ISIS militants in Mosul on Tuesday, June 10.
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Civilians from Mosul escape to a refugee camp near Irbil, Iraq, on June 10.
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Civilians from Mosul escape to a refugee camp near Irbil, Iraq, on June 10.
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01 iraq isis 013002 iraq isis 013001 isis 012803 isis 012802 isis 0128 RESTRICTED04 isis 0128 RESTRICTED05 isis 0128 RESTRICTED06 isis 012807 isis 012808 isis 0128 RESTRICTED09 isis 012831 week in photos 1107 RESTRICTED01 ISIS 103001 isis 102306 isis 102003 isis kobin 101801 isis kobani 101805 syria 101406 syria 101402 syria 101401 syria unrest 100529 week in photos 101002 iraq 100227 week in photos 1003 RESTRICTEDnavy missiles isis38 week in photos 092603 syrian refugees 092202 syrian refugees 092201 week in photos 0919 RESTRICTED02 iraq crisisiraq 090101 iraq 0827 RESTRICTED02 iraq 0827 RESTRICTED03 iraq 0827 RESTRICTED01 iraq 0821iraq airstrike 081801 iraq 081408 week in photos 0815iraq 0809 RESTRICTEDRESTRICTED 02 iraq 0807iraq 0731 RESTRICTEDsyria 070907 iraq 062701 iraq 061902 iraq unrest 061303 iraq unrest 0613 RESTRICTED27 week in photos 0612

Story highlights

  • U.S. secretary of state says Iranian actions against ISIS could have a positive effect
  • An Iranian military leader says the United States is at a "strategic dead-end"
  • Regional reports say that Iran bombed ISIS targets in eastern Iraq
  • Both the U.S. and Iran say their militaries do not communicate

The United States and Iran may be bombing a common enemy in Iraq, one whom they both despise -- ISIS.

Recent media reports from the region claim Iran's military conducted air raids in eastern Iraq, and on Tuesday, a spokesman for the Pentagon said the reports might be true.

"We have indications that they (Iranians) have flown these missions in recent days, these airstrikes in eastern Iraq," Rear Admiral John Kirby told CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

No coordination, U.S. says

Is Iran coordinating with the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Sunni Islamist extremists?

Adamantly, no, came the answer from both sides.

The U.S. is not working with Iran's military, and it is not even directly communicating with it over operations in the country, Kirby said.

    A Kurdish marksman looks over a destroyed area of Kobani, Syria, on Friday, January 30. Kobani, also known as Ayn al-Arab, had been under assault by ISIS since mid-September.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    A Kurdish marksman looks over a destroyed area of Kobani, Syria, on Friday, January 30. Kobani, also known as Ayn al-Arab, had been under assault by ISIS since mid-September.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    A Kurdish marksman looks over a destroyed area of Kobani, Syria, on Friday, January 30. Kobani, also known as Ayn al-Arab, had been under assault by ISIS since mid-September.
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    Smoke billows in the background as Kurdish Peshmerga fighters take position in Kirkuk, Iraq, on January 30.
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    Smoke billows in the background as Kurdish Peshmerga fighters take position in Kirkuk, Iraq, on January 30.
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    Relatives of Moaz al-Kassasbeh, a Jordanian pilot who was captured in December by ISIS militants, protest in front of the Royal Palace in Amman, Jordan, on Wednesday, January 28. ISIS has threatened to kill al-Kassasbeh and Japanese hostage Kenji Goto if Jordan does not release Sajida al-Rishawi, a convicted would-be suicide bomber.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    Relatives of Moaz al-Kassasbeh, a Jordanian pilot who was captured in December by ISIS militants, protest in front of the Royal Palace in Amman, Jordan, on Wednesday, January 28. ISIS has threatened to kill al-Kassasbeh and Japanese hostage Kenji Goto if Jordan does not release Sajida al-Rishawi, a convicted would-be suicide bomber.
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    Kurdish people celebrate in Suruc, Turkey, near the Turkish-Syrian border, after ISIS militants were expelled from Kobani, Syria, on Tuesday, January 27.
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    Kurdish people celebrate in Suruc, Turkey, near the Turkish-Syrian border, after ISIS militants were expelled from Kobani, Syria, on Tuesday, January 27.
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    Collapsed buildings are seen in Kobani on January 27 after Kurdish forces took control of the town from ISIS. ISIS has been making advances in Iraq and Syria as it seeks to create an Islamic caliphate in the region.
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    Collapsed buildings are seen in Kobani on January 27 after Kurdish forces took control of the town from ISIS. ISIS has been making advances in Iraq and Syria as it seeks to create an Islamic caliphate in the region.
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    Junko Ishido, mother of Japanese journalist Kenji Goto, reacts during a news conference in Tokyo on Friday, January 23. ISIS has already claimed to kill another Japanese hostage, Haruna Yukawa.
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    Junko Ishido, mother of Japanese journalist Kenji Goto, reacts during a news conference in Tokyo on Friday, January 23. ISIS has already claimed to kill another Japanese hostage, Haruna Yukawa.
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    ISIS militants are seen through a rifle's scope during clashes with Peshmerga fighters in Mosul, Iraq, on Wednesday, January 21.
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    ISIS militants are seen through a rifle's scope during clashes with Peshmerga fighters in Mosul, Iraq, on Wednesday, January 21.
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    An elderly Yazidi arrives in Kirkuk, Iraq, on Saturday, January 17, after being released by ISIS. The militant group released about 200 Yazidis who were held captive for five months in Iraq. Almost all of the freed prisoners were in poor health and bore signs of abuse and neglect, Kurdish officials said.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    An elderly Yazidi arrives in Kirkuk, Iraq, on Saturday, January 17, after being released by ISIS. The militant group released about 200 Yazidis who were held captive for five months in Iraq. Almost all of the freed prisoners were in poor health and bore signs of abuse and neglect, Kurdish officials said.
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    An identification card lies in the dirt in the Hardan village in northern Iraq on Monday, December 22. A handful of Yazidis who fled when ISIS overran the town in August returned after Kurdish fighters drove the extremists out.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    An identification card lies in the dirt in the Hardan village in northern Iraq on Monday, December 22. A handful of Yazidis who fled when ISIS overran the town in August returned after Kurdish fighters drove the extremists out.
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    Smoke billows behind an ISIS sign during an Iraqi military operation to regain control of the town of Sadiyah, about 95 kilometers (60 miles) north of Baghdad, on Tuesday, November 25.
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    Smoke billows behind an ISIS sign during an Iraqi military operation to regain control of the town of Sadiyah, about 95 kilometers (60 miles) north of Baghdad, on Tuesday, November 25.
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    Fighters from the Free Syrian Army and the Kurdish People's Protection Units join forces to fight ISIS in Kobani on Wednesday, November 19.
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    Fighters from the Free Syrian Army and the Kurdish People's Protection Units join forces to fight ISIS in Kobani on Wednesday, November 19.
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    A picture taken from Turkey shows smoke rising after ISIS militants fired mortar shells toward an area controlled by Syrian Kurdish fighters near Kobani on Monday, November 3.
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    A picture taken from Turkey shows smoke rising after ISIS militants fired mortar shells toward an area controlled by Syrian Kurdish fighters near Kobani on Monday, November 3.
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    Iraqi special forces search a house in Jurf al-Sakhar, Iraq, on Thursday, October 30, after retaking the area from ISIS.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    Iraqi special forces search a house in Jurf al-Sakhar, Iraq, on Thursday, October 30, after retaking the area from ISIS.
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    ISIS militants stand near the site of an airstrike near the Turkey-Syria border on Thursday, October 23. The United States and several Arab nations have been bombing ISIS targets in Syria to take out the militant group's ability to command, train and resupply its fighters.
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    ISIS militants stand near the site of an airstrike near the Turkey-Syria border on Thursday, October 23. The United States and several Arab nations have been bombing ISIS targets in Syria to take out the militant group's ability to command, train and resupply its fighters.
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    Kurdish fighters walk to positions as they combat ISIS forces in Kobani on Sunday, October 19.
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    Kurdish fighters walk to positions as they combat ISIS forces in Kobani on Sunday, October 19.
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    A U.S. Air Force plane flies above Kobani on Saturday, October 18.
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    A U.S. Air Force plane flies above Kobani on Saturday, October 18.
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    Heavy smoke rises in Kobani following an airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition on October 18.
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    Heavy smoke rises in Kobani following an airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition on October 18.
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    Cundi Minaz, a female Kurdish fighter, is buried in a cemetery in the southeastern Turkish town of Suruc on Tuesday, October 14. Minaz was reportedly killed during clashes with ISIS militants in nearby Kobani.
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    Cundi Minaz, a female Kurdish fighter, is buried in a cemetery in the southeastern Turkish town of Suruc on Tuesday, October 14. Minaz was reportedly killed during clashes with ISIS militants in nearby Kobani.
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    Turkish police officers secure a basketball stadium in Suruc on October 14. Some Syrian Kurds were held there after crossing from Syria into Turkey. Tens of thousands of people fled Kobani to escape ISIS.
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    Turkish police officers secure a basketball stadium in Suruc on October 14. Some Syrian Kurds were held there after crossing from Syria into Turkey. Tens of thousands of people fled Kobani to escape ISIS.
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    Kiymet Ergun, a Syrian Kurd, celebrates in Mursitpinar, Turkey, after an airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition in Kobani on Monday, October 13.
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    Kiymet Ergun, a Syrian Kurd, celebrates in Mursitpinar, Turkey, after an airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition in Kobani on Monday, October 13.
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    Alleged ISIS militants stand next to an ISIS flag atop a hill in Kobani on Monday, October 6.
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    Alleged ISIS militants stand next to an ISIS flag atop a hill in Kobani on Monday, October 6.
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    In this photo released by the U.S. Air Force on Saturday, October 4, a U.S. Navy jet is refueled in Iraqi airspace after conducting an airstrike against ISIS militants.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    In this photo released by the U.S. Air Force on Saturday, October 4, a U.S. Navy jet is refueled in Iraqi airspace after conducting an airstrike against ISIS militants.
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    A Kurdish Peshmerga soldier who was wounded in a battle with ISIS is wheeled to the Zakho Emergency Hospital in Duhuk, Iraq, on Tuesday, September 30.
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    A Kurdish Peshmerga soldier who was wounded in a battle with ISIS is wheeled to the Zakho Emergency Hospital in Duhuk, Iraq, on Tuesday, September 30.
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    Syrian Kurds wait near a border crossing in Suruc as they wait to return to their homes in Kobani on Sunday, September 28.
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    Syrian Kurds wait near a border crossing in Suruc as they wait to return to their homes in Kobani on Sunday, September 28.
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    Tomahawk missiles, intended for ISIS targets in Syria, fly above the Persian Gulf after being fired by the USS Philippine Sea in this image released by the U.S. Navy on Tuesday, September 23.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    Tomahawk missiles, intended for ISIS targets in Syria, fly above the Persian Gulf after being fired by the USS Philippine Sea in this image released by the U.S. Navy on Tuesday, September 23.
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    Turkish Kurds clash with Turkish security forces during a protest near Suruc on Monday, September 22. According to <a href="http://time.com/3423522/turkey-syria-isis-isil-refugees/" target="_blank">Time magazine</a>, the protests were over Turkey's temporary decision to close the border with Syria.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    Turkish Kurds clash with Turkish security forces during a protest near Suruc on Monday, September 22. According to Time magazine, the protests were over Turkey's temporary decision to close the border with Syria.
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    Syrian Kurds fleeing ISIS militants wait behind a fence in Suruc on Sunday, September 21.
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    Syrian Kurds fleeing ISIS militants wait behind a fence in Suruc on Sunday, September 21.
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    A elderly man is carried after crossing the Syria-Turkey border near Suruc on Saturday, September 20.
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    A elderly man is carried after crossing the Syria-Turkey border near Suruc on Saturday, September 20.
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    A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter launches mortar shells toward ISIS militants in Zumar, Iraq, on Monday, September 15.
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    A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter launches mortar shells toward ISIS militants in Zumar, Iraq, on Monday, September 15.
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    Kurdish Peshmerga fighters fire at ISIS militant positions from their position on the top of Mount Zardak, east of Mosul, Iraq, on Tuesday, September 9.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    Kurdish Peshmerga fighters fire at ISIS militant positions from their position on the top of Mount Zardak, east of Mosul, Iraq, on Tuesday, September 9.
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    30 of 47
    Iraqi volunteer fighters celebrate breaking the Amerli siege on Monday, September 1. ISIS militants had surrounded Amerli, 70 miles north of Baquba, Iraq, since mid-June.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    Iraqi volunteer fighters celebrate breaking the Amerli siege on Monday, September 1. ISIS militants had surrounded Amerli, 70 miles north of Baquba, Iraq, since mid-June.
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    Kurdish Peshmerga forces stand guard at their position in the Omar Khaled village west of Mosul on Sunday, August 24.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    Kurdish Peshmerga forces stand guard at their position in the Omar Khaled village west of Mosul on Sunday, August 24.
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    32 of 47
    Kurdish Peshmergas fight to regain control of the town of Celavle, in Iraq's Diyala province, on August 24.
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    Kurdish Peshmergas fight to regain control of the town of Celavle, in Iraq's Diyala province, on August 24.
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    33 of 47
    Peshmerga fighters stand guard at Mosul Dam in northern Iraq on Thursday, August 21. With the help of U.S. military airstrikes, Kurdish and Iraqi forces<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/18/world/meast/iraq-mosul-dam/index.html"> retook the dam</a> from ISIS militants on August 18. A breach of the dam would have been catastrophic for millions of Iraqis who live downstream from it.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    Peshmerga fighters stand guard at Mosul Dam in northern Iraq on Thursday, August 21. With the help of U.S. military airstrikes, Kurdish and Iraqi forces retook the dam from ISIS militants on August 18. A breach of the dam would have been catastrophic for millions of Iraqis who live downstream from it.
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    Displaced Iraqis receive clothes from a charity at a refugee camp near Feeshkhabour, Iraq, on Tuesday, August 19.
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    Displaced Iraqis receive clothes from a charity at a refugee camp near Feeshkhabour, Iraq, on Tuesday, August 19.
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    35 of 47
    Peshmerga fighters inspect the remains of a car that reportedly belonged to ISIS militants and was targeted by a U.S. airstrike in the village of Baqufa, north of Mosul, on August 18.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    Peshmerga fighters inspect the remains of a car that reportedly belonged to ISIS militants and was targeted by a U.S. airstrike in the village of Baqufa, north of Mosul, on August 18.
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    36 of 47
    Kurdish Peshmerga fighters fire at ISIS in Khazair, Iraq, on Thursday, August 14.
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    Kurdish Peshmerga fighters fire at ISIS in Khazair, Iraq, on Thursday, August 14.
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    37 of 47
    Aziza Hamid, a 15-year-old Iraqi girl, cries for her father while she and some other Yazidi people are flown to safety Monday, August 11, after a dramatic rescue operation at Iraq's Mount Sinjar. A CNN crew was on the flight, which took diapers, milk, water and food to the site where as many as 70,000 people were trapped by ISIS. But only a few of them were able to fly back on the helicopter with the Iraqi Air Force and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    Aziza Hamid, a 15-year-old Iraqi girl, cries for her father while she and some other Yazidi people are flown to safety Monday, August 11, after a dramatic rescue operation at Iraq's Mount Sinjar. A CNN crew was on the flight, which took diapers, milk, water and food to the site where as many as 70,000 people were trapped by ISIS. But only a few of them were able to fly back on the helicopter with the Iraqi Air Force and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters.
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    38 of 47
    Thousands of Yazidis are escorted to safety by Kurdish Peshmerga forces and a People's Protection Unit in Mosul on Saturday, August 9.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    Thousands of Yazidis are escorted to safety by Kurdish Peshmerga forces and a People's Protection Unit in Mosul on Saturday, August 9.
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    39 of 47
    Thousands of Yazidi and Christian people flee Mosul on Wednesday, August 6, after the latest wave of ISIS advances.
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    Thousands of Yazidi and Christian people flee Mosul on Wednesday, August 6, after the latest wave of ISIS advances.
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    40 of 47
    A Baiji oil refinery burns after an alleged ISIS attack in northern Selahaddin, Iraq, on Thursday, July 31.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    A Baiji oil refinery burns after an alleged ISIS attack in northern Selahaddin, Iraq, on Thursday, July 31.
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    41 of 47
    A Syrian rebel fighter lies on a stretcher at a makeshift hospital in Douma, Syria, on Wednesday, July 9. He was reportedly injured while fighting ISIS militants.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    A Syrian rebel fighter lies on a stretcher at a makeshift hospital in Douma, Syria, on Wednesday, July 9. He was reportedly injured while fighting ISIS militants.
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    42 of 47
    Peshmerga fighters clean their weapons at a base in Tuz Khormato on June 25.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    Peshmerga fighters clean their weapons at a base in Tuz Khormato on June 25.
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    43 of 47
    New army recruits gather in Najaf, Iraq, on Wednesday, June 18, following a call for Iraqis to take up arms against Islamic militant fighters.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    New army recruits gather in Najaf, Iraq, on Wednesday, June 18, following a call for Iraqis to take up arms against Islamic militant fighters.
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    44 of 47
    Kurdish Peshmerga forces, along with Iraqi special forces, deploy their troops and armored vehicles outside of Kirkuk, Iraq, on June 12.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    Kurdish Peshmerga forces, along with Iraqi special forces, deploy their troops and armored vehicles outside of Kirkuk, Iraq, on June 12.
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    45 of 47
    Children stand next to a burnt vehicle during clashes between Iraqi security forces and ISIS militants in Mosul on Tuesday, June 10.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    Children stand next to a burnt vehicle during clashes between Iraqi security forces and ISIS militants in Mosul on Tuesday, June 10.
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    46 of 47
    Civilians from Mosul escape to a refugee camp near Irbil, Iraq, on June 10.
    The ISIS terror threat 47 photos
    Civilians from Mosul escape to a refugee camp near Irbil, Iraq, on June 10.
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    47 of 47
    01 iraq isis 013002 iraq isis 013001 isis 012803 isis 012802 isis 0128 RESTRICTED04 isis 0128 RESTRICTED05 isis 0128 RESTRICTED06 isis 012807 isis 012808 isis 0128 RESTRICTED09 isis 012831 week in photos 1107 RESTRICTED01 ISIS 103001 isis 102306 isis 102003 isis kobin 101801 isis kobani 101805 syria 101406 syria 101402 syria 101401 syria unrest 100529 week in photos 101002 iraq 100227 week in photos 1003 RESTRICTEDnavy missiles isis38 week in photos 092603 syrian refugees 092202 syrian refugees 092201 week in photos 0919 RESTRICTED02 iraq crisisiraq 090101 iraq 0827 RESTRICTED02 iraq 0827 RESTRICTED03 iraq 0827 RESTRICTED01 iraq 0821iraq airstrike 081801 iraq 081408 week in photos 0815iraq 0809 RESTRICTEDRESTRICTED 02 iraq 0807iraq 0731 RESTRICTEDsyria 070907 iraq 062701 iraq 061902 iraq unrest 061303 iraq unrest 0613 RESTRICTED27 week in photos 0612
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    "We are not coordinating with nor are we deconflicting with Iranian military," he said. Both sides are leaving it to Iraq to manage their movements in Iraqi airspace and keep them both out of each other's hair.

    Speaking from Brussels, Belgium, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry didn't confirm or deny Iran's military action, saying that's up to the Iraqi or Iranian government. But he did say that while the United States is coordinating its military action with Iraqi authorities, "nothing has changed" as far as its lack of coordination with Iran.

    "I think it's self-evident that if Iran is taking (action against ISIS) in some particular place, and it's confined to taking on (ISIS) and it has an impact, it's going to be a net effect that is positive," Kerry said. "But it's not something we're coordinating."

    Iran blames U.S. for regional unrest

    A high-ranking Iranian military official also vehemently rejected the notion that there may have been any coordinated bombing, and he attacked the United States in his comments.

    "The Islamic Republic of Iran blames the United States as the root cause of unrests and problems as well as the terrorist actions of ISIL in Iraq," Gen. Massoud Jazayeri told the government-approved FARS News Agency, adding that Iran wants U.S. influence to completely evaporate.

    In another FARS report, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard characterized the United States as an enemy, not an ally.

    "Today, the Americans are in a strategic dead-end and have experienced all possible options and strategies against the Islamic Revolution, but couldn't attain their desired goals," Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari said. "The U.S. capabilities can no more be expanded and their capacities for initiating a change have reached the level of saturation, meaning that the U.S. is left with no more option but admitting the Islamic Republic of Iran's real power."

    A common enemy

    Yet ISIS is one of few issues that Iran and the United States agree on; both countries want to quash the terror group that has been taking over large swaths of Iraq and Syria.

    But with no diplomatic relations with Iran and lingering concerns about its nuclear program, the United States has had to walk a tightrope over Iran's involvement.

    This was reflected in comments that U.S. President Barack Obama made to CBS' "Face the Nation."

    "There is some deconflicting, in the sense that since they have some troops or militias they control in and around Baghdad ... we let them know, 'Don't mess with us. We're not here to mess with you.' We're focused on our common enemy," Obama said.

    Iranians defend Baghdad?

    Word of Iranian participation in the fight against ISIS is nothing new.

    A military official in Iran has said the world can thank his country that ISIS has not been able to assault Baghdad.

    "The (ISIS) terrorists sought to surround Baghdad, but they failed in reaching their ominous goals thanks to Iran's supports," Brig. Gen. Esmayeel Qa'ani told FARS.

    Qa'ani is lieutenant commander of the Quds Force, an elite unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps.

    According to FARS, senior military officials in Baghdad said the Quds Force helped free the Iraqi town of Jurf al-Sakher from ISIS control.

    Conflicting interests

    But the common interest is complicated by diverging interests.

    The United States wants to put an end to all Islamist extremism, and in the past, it has accused Tehran of sponsoring terrorism.

    Iran itself is an Islamic republic, governed by stringent Islamic law. But the state religion is Shia Islam, which Sunni Muslim extremists, such as ISIS, consider heresy.

    Fear of religious tensions

    In neighboring Iraq, there is a tense and at times violent schism between Shia and Sunni factions, with the former dominating in government.

    Iran has close ties to the Shia faction.

    That has stirred fears in Washington that Iran's involvement could not only weaken ISIS, but could also drive the wedge between Iraqis deeper.

    "We want nothing to be done that further inflames sectarian tensions in the country," Kirby said of Iranian military actions.

    Iran is also a close ally of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, who is battling ISIS as well. Beating back ISIS would take some pressure off of his troops.

    The United States is calling for al-Assad's removal.