President Obama Approves Airstrikes in Iraq

President Obama has approved airstrikes in Iraq, as he confirmed US planes had dropped aid to Iraqis trapped by Islamist fighters.

The aircraft delivered food and water and have safely left the immediate drop zone, said the US Defence Department.

President Obama said he had also approved targeted airstrikes - if necessary - to protect US citizens working in Irbil, and also to prevent a potential "genocide" of the Yazidi people

He stressed there was no intention of sending in any troops.

Members of the Yazidi community were left stranded on Mount Sinjar

It comes as around 40,000 residents from the ancient Yazidi community were forced to leave the northern Iraqi town of Sinjar after Sunni fighters overwhelmed Kurdish forces.

Many of them are trapped on Mount Sinjar without food or water and are at risk of starvation as Islamist militants surround the base.

Obama in discussion with his national security team

"Today I authorised two operations in Iraq," said President Obama.

"Targeted airstrikes to protect our American personnel and a humanitarian effort to save thousands of Iraqi civilians."

The President said the military would act to stop the advance on Irbil by The Islamic State - the group previously known as ISIS or ISIL.

The US has a consulate in the city, where civilian and military staff work.

Kurdish troops were overwhelmed by militants in Sinjar

Militants have been surging across the north of Iraq towards Irbil, the capital of the Kurdish region.

"I've directed our military to take targeted strikes against ISIL convoys, should they move toward the city," said President Obama.

"We intend to stay vigilant and take action if these terrorist forces threaten our personnel or facilities anywhere in Iraq."

Sky sources at the Pentagon say C-130 and C-17 cargo aircraft participated in Thursday's aid drop on Mount Sinjar, and were escorted by F-18 fighters.

President Obama said the Iraqi government had asked the US for help, with as many of tens of thousands hiding on the mountain with "little but the clothes on their backs".

"Children are dying of thirst, meanwhile ISIL forces have called for the destruction of the entire Yazidi people, which would constitute genocide," the president said.

"These innocent families are faced with a horrible choice: Descend the mountain and be slaughtered, or stay and slowly die of thirst and hunger."

Airstrikes had been approved to stop a potential "massacre" of the Yazidis, said the president.

He said they would be used - if necessary - to help Iraqi forces "break the siege of Mount Sinjar and protect the civilians there".

The Islamic State has issued the Yazidi people an ultimatum to convert to Islam, pay a religious fine, flee their homes or face death.

It sees the Yazidis, who are followers of a religion derived from Zoroastrianism, as "devil worshippers".

Hundreds of thousands of people, mostly Christians, are fleeing from the jihadists who have swept through more than a dozen towns.

Among them, the militants captured Iraq's biggest Christian town, Qaraqosh, prompting many residents to leave.

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