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Two British aid planes take off for Iraq UK aid deliveries in Iraq 'imminent'
(35 minutes later)
A second cargo plane has left RAF Brize Norton carrying British humanitarian aid to Iraq, the BBC understands. The Royal Air Force (RAF) will start dropping humanitarian aid supplies in Iraq "imminently", the foreign secretary has said.
Philip Hammond said the aid effort would focus on helping thousands of members of the Yazidi minority trapped on a mountainside in northern Iraq.
He said air drop operations, in co-ordination with the US, could be expected for the foreseeable future.
Two cargo planes carrying aid left RAF Brize Norton earlier on Saturday.
The C-130 planes will drop supplies including tents, drinking water and mobile phone chargers as part of an £8m package of aid from the UK government.The C-130 planes will drop supplies including tents, drinking water and mobile phone chargers as part of an £8m package of aid from the UK government.
Members of the Yazidi community trapped on a mountainside in northern Iraq will be among those to receive assistance. Mr Hammond said: "We can expect a continuing drum beat of air drop operations, working in coordination with the US and potentially with others as well.
The government's emergency Cobra committee has been meeting to discuss the response to the conflict in Iraq. "More widely we are looking at how to support this group of [Yazidi] people and get them off that mountain, how we are going to facilitate their exit from what is a completely unacceptable situation.
'Brutal persecution' "Air-dropping supplies is a short-term solution; it isn't a long-term solution.
The BBC understands the meeting was chaired by Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond. "All of us are waiting for a new Iraqi government to be formed which will then have to take the lead in responding to the challenge that [militant group] Isis [now calling itself the Islamic State] is posing to the integrity of the Iraqi state," Mr Hammond said.
Mr Hammond declined to say whether military action had been ruled out as he left Downing Street earlier. Seized
The meeting had been expected to focus on the British humanitarian aid effort in Iraq, along with some broader discussion about the situation in Iraq. The government's emergency Cobra committee has been meeting to discuss the UK response to the conflict.
The Islamic State (IS) has recently made fresh gains in northern Iraq and is threatening the capital of the Kurdish semi-autonomous region, Irbil.
Thousands of members of the minority Yazidis, who follow an ancient faith that IS condemns as devil worship, have fled into the mountains from the Islamist militants who are reported by Iraq's human rights ministry to have seized hundreds of Yazidi women.
The US has begun airstrikes against IS targets engaging Kurdish forces near the key city of Irbil.
Prime Minister David Cameron has previously ruled out UK military action.Prime Minister David Cameron has previously ruled out UK military action.
However, BBC political correspondent Alan Soady said the UK could offer support to the US, in the form of air-to-air refuelling of planes or surveillance operations.However, BBC political correspondent Alan Soady said the UK could offer support to the US, in the form of air-to-air refuelling of planes or surveillance operations.
Mr Cameron has welcomed US air strikes on militants from the Islamic State (IS) - a group formerly known as Isis, which controls parts of Iraq and Syria. Mr Cameron has welcomed US air strikes on IS militants.
IS has recently made fresh gains in northern Iraq and is threatening the capital of the Kurdish semi-autonomous region, Irbil.
Yazidis follow an ancient faith that IS condemns as devil worship.
Thousands of members of the minority have fled into the mountains from the Islamist militants, who are reported by Iraq's human rights ministry to have seized hundreds of Yazidi women.
Earlier, International Development Secretary Justine Greening said the world had been "horrified by the brutal persecution of vulnerable minority groups" in Iraq.Earlier, International Development Secretary Justine Greening said the world had been "horrified by the brutal persecution of vulnerable minority groups" in Iraq.
"Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes and we are extremely concerned for their safety," she said."Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes and we are extremely concerned for their safety," she said.
BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said that while Downing Street could not rule out military action indefinitely, the mood was not "gung-ho" ahead of the 2015 general election.BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said that while Downing Street could not rule out military action indefinitely, the mood was not "gung-ho" ahead of the 2015 general election.
The UK's emergency aid package includes:The UK's emergency aid package includes:
It brings the country's total support for the humanitarian effort in Iraq to £13m.It brings the country's total support for the humanitarian effort in Iraq to £13m.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office has advised Britons not to travel to those parts of Iraqi Kurdistan affected by fighting and to leave areas close to the conflict.Meanwhile, the Foreign Office has advised Britons not to travel to those parts of Iraqi Kurdistan affected by fighting and to leave areas close to the conflict.