Obama: Air strikes on Iraq dam 'to protect US interests'

US air strikes in support of Iraqi forces' efforts to retake the country's largest dam are aimed at protecting US interests there, President Obama says.

According to the BBC, the failure of Mosul dam may put US staff and facilities, including the US embassy in Baghdad, at risk, Barack Obama warned Congress in a letter.

It comes after the US sent bombers for the first time to help Kurdish forces expel Islamic State (IS) militants.

Kurdish officials now say they have near complete control of the dam.

If the recapture is confirmed, it will be the biggest reverse for IS since they launched their offensive in Iraq in June.

The strategically important facility, seized by IS militants on 7 August, supplies water and electricity to northern Iraq.

President Obama notified Congress that the widened mission in Iraq would be limited in scope and duration, the White House said in a statement on Sunday.

In addition to citing concerns over US facilities in Iraq, he said the failure of the dam could "prevent the Iraqi government from providing critical services to the Iraqi populace."