BANFIELD: Breaking news. A new round of U.S. air strikes in Iraq. American war planes attacking targets in Kurdistan belonging to the terror group ISIS. This is an area that has long been considered Iraq's safest and the Kurds are a crucial ally to the United States. That is why as Richard Roth reports, it is so important that the United States does not allow Kurdistan to fall into the hands of the militants.</s>RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: America's air strikes in Iraq highlights the importance of Washington's relationship with the Kurds.</s>JOE REEDER, FORMER U.S. ARMY SECRETARY: The Kurds are the very best friends we have in the Middle East. They've always been there, second only to Israel. We have no better friends there.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALES: Allahu akbar!</s>ROTH: Now the friends are facing their toughest enemies in two decades in the form of ISIS, also known as the Islamic state, the extremists who are terrorizing their way through Iraq.</s>BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We can and should support moderate forces who can bring stability to Iraq.</s>ROTH: Over the years, the United States has been a strong ally to the Kurds and their President Massoud Barzani.</s>JOHN KERRY, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATES: I'm very grateful to President Barzani for a generous welcome. It's very good to see you again.</s>ROTH: The Kurds don't have their own country, but do have autonomy from Baghdad in the region called Kurdistan, the most stable part of Iraq. As the rest of the country has deteriorated along sectarian lines. The Kurdish fighters have a good reputation, but ammunition is running low. If the Kurds fall it could lead to a domino effect.
Israel and Palestinian Resume Hostilities