The terrorist group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, or ISIS, launched an attack on Thursday to seize control of the largest dam in Iraq.
The militants clashed with Kurdish troops at the Mosul Dam and were repelled.
The hydroelectric structure, formerly known as the Saddam Dam, provides water and electricity to Iraq's second-largest city, Mosul. Fox News reported that ISIS has been fighting soldiers for control of the dam for nearly a week. Thursday's assault resulted in at least one death.
ISIS took over the Nineveh Province capital nearly two months ago, forcing hundreds of thousands of Christians and Shiite Muslims to flee their homes.
In six months, over 5,500 people have been killed by the terrorist regime that seeks to establish an extremist, Sunni Muslim reign across Iraq and Syria.
Pope Francis again called for international support for the droves of displaced Iraqis in a recent statement.
He urged all nations to "put an end to the humanitarian drama underway, adopt measures to protect those who are threatened by violence and assure them necessary aid, especially urgent for those who are homeless and depend on the solidarity of others."
The Pope also addressed the crisis less than three weeks ago during his weekly Angelus prayer and address.
"Our brothers are being persecuted, chased away, they are forced to leave their homes without being able to take anything with them," he said from the balcony over St Peter's Square in Vatican City.
"I assure these families that I am close to them and in constant prayer," he continued. "I know how much you are suffering; I know you are being stripped of everything."
There have been Christians in Iraq for over 2,000 years, and there were as many as 1.5 million Iraqi Christians before the United States invaded the country in 2003. An estimated 200,000 Christians remain, but that number is dropping as thousands flee the wanton violence.
