The White House has confirmed Barack Obama ordered US airstrikes near Iraq's largest dam.

Kurdish forces have retaken parts of the Mosul Dam complex, which was captured by Islamic State fighters over a week ago.

Two videos have been released by the US Defence Department, claiming to show airstrikes targeting one of the militants' armoured trucks and another vehicle.

Meanwhile, the British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon says the UK's military missions in Iraq could last for weeks or months.

UK military aircraft have starting monitoring Islamic State positions, having initially been sent to the region to the assist the refugees who have been displaced by IS forces.

Islamic State's offensive this year has seen them capture major cities, such as Mosul and Tikrit, with reports of beheadings and crucifixions as they grab more territory for their self-proclaimed caliphate in Syria and Iraq.