The US and its allies have launched 15 airstrikes against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) militants in Iraq during the past 24 hours, the US military said in a statement released on Saturday. Nine air-attacks targeted IS positions around the Iraqi cities of Mosul and Bajii. In Syria, five strikes were launched near Kobani, and one near Hasakah, according to the military statement. The US first authorized an airstrike campaign against the extremist Sunni group last August.