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Iraq conflict: US steps up air strikes on IS militants Iraq conflict: US steps up air strikes on IS militants
(about 1 hour later)
The US has launched two additional air strikes against militants from the Islamic State (IS) group in northern Iraq, the Pentagon has said.The US has launched two additional air strikes against militants from the Islamic State (IS) group in northern Iraq, the Pentagon has said.
US drones and Navy fighter jets attacked targets near the city of Irbil - a similar location to the first strike earlier on Friday. US drones and Navy fighter jets attacked targets near the Kurdish city of Irbil - a similar location to the first strike earlier on Friday.
The Sunni Muslim group IS has taken control of swathes of Iraq and Syria.The Sunni Muslim group IS has taken control of swathes of Iraq and Syria.
Tens of thousands of people from minority groups have fled their homes due to the militants' advance.Tens of thousands of people from minority groups have fled their homes due to the militants' advance.
IS, formerly known as Isis, has also seized Iraq's largest dam.IS, formerly known as Isis, has also seized Iraq's largest dam.
These air strikes are the first time the US has been directly involved in a military operation in Iraq since American troops withdrew in late 2011.These air strikes are the first time the US has been directly involved in a military operation in Iraq since American troops withdrew in late 2011.
Convoy targetedConvoy targeted
In the second wave of strikes, US drones destroyed a mortar position and killed a group of militants, the Pentagon said.In the second wave of strikes, US drones destroyed a mortar position and killed a group of militants, the Pentagon said.
Analysis by BBC Washington correspondent David Willis
President Barack Obama hasn't set a timetable for the current intervention and White House spokesman Josh Earnest said simply that the length of the campaign would be determined by events on the ground.
He said that, ultimately, a solution to the current violence rests with the formation of an Iraqi government that is representative of all the Iraqi people. Yet the course of this engagement is difficult to predict.
White House officials concede they are concerned about the Islamic State fighters' proficiency - they are said to be well armed and well trained - hence it remains to be seen whether air strikes will be effective.
All of which raises the prospect of "mission creep" if the current campaign doesn't halt their advance.
Then just over an hour later, F/A-18 jets used laser-guided bombs to hit a seven-vehicle convoy of IS vehicles, spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said.Then just over an hour later, F/A-18 jets used laser-guided bombs to hit a seven-vehicle convoy of IS vehicles, spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said.
Earlier on Friday, two 500-pound (227kg) bombs were dropped on IS artillery, which was being used against Kurdish forces defending Irbil. Earlier on Friday, two 500lb (227kg) bombs were dropped on IS artillery being used against forces defending Irbil, capital of the autonomous Kurdistan Region.
Marie Harf, a spokeswoman for the US state department, told the BBC that the immediate goal of the strikes was to "prevent the advance" of IS towards Irbil.Marie Harf, a spokeswoman for the US state department, told the BBC that the immediate goal of the strikes was to "prevent the advance" of IS towards Irbil.
"Then longer term obviously we want to work to provide some time and space for the Kurdish forces to get back on their feet and fight this threat on their own," she said."Then longer term obviously we want to work to provide some time and space for the Kurdish forces to get back on their feet and fight this threat on their own," she said.
"There's not really a long term US military solution here.""There's not really a long term US military solution here."
US Secretary of State John Kerry said the world needed to wake up to the threat posed by the IS group. IS recently seized towns held by Kurdish "Peshmerga" forces, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee into the mountains.
Although the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Region have been at odds for months, Prime Minister Nouri Maliki sent a plane load of ammunition to Irbil on Friday, Reuters reported.
Mr Maliki has previously ordered the air force to support Kurdish fighters in their fight against IS.
The White House said Vice-President Joe Biden had called Iraqi President Fuad Masum on Friday and reiterated President Obama's commitment to help Iraqi civilians and bolster Iraq's ability to fight IS forces.
Earlier, US Secretary of State John Kerry said the world needed to wake up to the threat posed by the IS group.
He said its "campaign of terror against the innocent, including the Yazidi and Christian minorities" showed "all the warning signs of genocide".He said its "campaign of terror against the innocent, including the Yazidi and Christian minorities" showed "all the warning signs of genocide".
IS fighters seized Qaraqosh, Iraq's biggest Christian town, earlier this week, causing many thousands to flee. British government sources told the BBC the air strikes were entirely "a US operation" and the UK was currently focused on humanitarian efforts.
The militants' advance has also forced tens of thousands of Yazidis to escape to a nearby mountain. While future participation in air strikes had not be ruled out, it had not been discussed by the UK government's emergency committee Cobra on Friday, and would not be over the weekend, the sources said.
Late on Thursday, US military planes carried out air drops of food and water help the displaced Yazidis. Air drops
IS fighters seized Qaraqosh, Iraq's biggest Christian town this week, causing thousands to flee. The militants' advance also forced tens of thousands of Yazidis to escape to mountains near Sinjar.
Late on Thursday, US military planes dropped food and water to help the displaced Yazidis.
Iraq's human rights ministry says the militants have seized hundreds of Yazidi women.Iraq's human rights ministry says the militants have seized hundreds of Yazidi women.
Ministry spokesman Kamil Amin, quoted by the Associated Press news agency, said some were being held in schools in Iraq's second largest city Mosul. He said the information had come from the captives' families. Ministry spokesman Kamil Amin, quoted by AP news agency, said some were being held in schools in Iraq's second largest city Mosul.
Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence correspondent Back in June, when Isis took over Mosul, Mr Maliki requested US air strikes to halt the militants' advance - but Washington did not intervene.
Rapid intervention in the north was a special case merited by the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe, but how much more support might the Americans give to the Kurds? Analysts say the relentless advance of IS fighters, together with the continuing failure of Iraqi politicians to agree on a new government after an election in April, may have swayed Mr Obama.
Amid all the talk of centrifugal forces in Iraq, the Kurdish north has the greatest degree of autonomy, some would argue it is already half way out of the door of the Iraqi state.
Such a move would have huge implications for Turkey, Syria and Iran who all have Kurdish minorities.
Reluctant US returns to Iraq frontline amid humanitarian crisis
Political pressure
Back in June, when Isis took over Mosul, Prime Minister Nouri Maliki requested US air strikes to halt the militants' advance - but Washington did not intervene.
Analysts say the relentless advance of IS fighters, together with the continuing failure of Iraqi politicians to agree on a new government after an election in April, may have swayed Mr Obama into deciding to act now.
Mr Maliki has faced calls from Sunni Arab, Kurdish and some Shia Arab leaders to step down because of his handling of the crisis.Mr Maliki has faced calls from Sunni Arab, Kurdish and some Shia Arab leaders to step down because of his handling of the crisis.
But as leader of the bloc that won the most seats in April's parliamentary elections, Mr Maliki has demanded the right to attempt to form a governing coalition. But as leader of the bloc that won the most seats in April's parliamentary elections, he has demanded the right to attempt to form a governing coalition.
Iraq's minoritiesIraq's minorities
ChristiansChristians
YazidisYazidis
Iraq: The minorities of NinevehIraq: The minorities of Nineveh
Who are the Yazidis?Who are the Yazidis?