Barack Obama authorises bombing of Islamist militants in northern Iraq
Washington: President Barack Obama has authorised airstrikes in Iraq in defence of United States staff and of refugees who have been besieged by Islamic State of Iraq and Levant militants on the Sinjar mountains in the north.
Addressing the nation from the White House at 9.30pm in Washington, the President said the US had already begun dropping emergency aid to the besieged Yazidi community on the mountains.
Mr Obama said America’s top priority was the protection of US consulate and military staff who are based in the city of Erbil to advise Iraqi forces in their fight against ISIL. He said he had authorised targeted airstrikes against any ISIL convoys that approached the city.
But he said he had also authorised airstrikes to help break the siege of the Yazidis to help avert a humanitarian catastrophe. It is estimated that around 30,000 Yazidis, members of a small ancient religion that has been persecuted by ISIL militants as their area of control has expanded, are trapped and exposed on the mountain top without food or water.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/barack-obama-authorises-bombing-of-islamist-militants-in-northern-iraq-2...
