MESOP TODAY’S HEADLINE : TEHRAN BOMBING WITH PHANTOM’S IN IRAQ / COLLABORATION WITH US ?

U.S. officials have indicated that Iran has used F-4 Phantoms to conduct airstrikes in the last several days against Islamic State militants in Iraq. Al Jazeera footage recorded on Nov. 24 showed what appeared to be a fighter jet similar to those used by the Iranian air force, though Iran has denied the reports. Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said there is “no indication that the reports are not true” but said the United States was not collaborating with Iran.

Meeting in Brussels with members of the U.S.-led coalition combating Islamic State militants, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said coalition strikes have significantly damaged the militant group’s operations. Though he noted the campaign could take years, he vowed to continue “as long as it takes.” Meanwhile, Iraq’s Interior Ministry has said a woman detained in Lebanon is not a wife of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The ministry spokesman said Saja Abdul Hamid al-Dulaimi is the sister of Omar Abdul Hamid al-Dulaimi, who was convicted of carrying out bombings in southern Iraq.