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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
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| Iraq conflict: US in new air strikes on militants | Iraq conflict: US in new air strikes on militants |
| (2 days later) | |
| The US military says it has carried out a third round of air strikes on Sunni Muslim militants to defend civilians in northern Iraq. | The US military says it has carried out a third round of air strikes on Sunni Muslim militants to defend civilians in northern Iraq. |
| It said jet fighters and drones had destroyed armoured vehicles that were firing on members of the Yazidi sect trapped by jihadists on Mount Sinjar. | It said jet fighters and drones had destroyed armoured vehicles that were firing on members of the Yazidi sect trapped by jihadists on Mount Sinjar. |
| The US authorised the strikes last week to halt the lightning advance of Islamic State (IS) in Iraq. | The US authorised the strikes last week to halt the lightning advance of Islamic State (IS) in Iraq. |
| France's foreign minister has arrived in Iraq to discuss the crisis. | France's foreign minister has arrived in Iraq to discuss the crisis. |
| Laurent Fabius, who landed in the capital Baghdad on Sunday morning, will also oversee the first delivery of French aid for displaced people in the Sinjar region. | Laurent Fabius, who landed in the capital Baghdad on Sunday morning, will also oversee the first delivery of French aid for displaced people in the Sinjar region. |
| He is due to later travel to the Kurdish city of Irbil, which is being threatened by the jihadists. | He is due to later travel to the Kurdish city of Irbil, which is being threatened by the jihadists. |
| Meanwhile, a British military aircraft has made its first airdrop of humanitarian aid in northern Iraq, confirms the UK Ministry of Defence. | Meanwhile, a British military aircraft has made its first airdrop of humanitarian aid in northern Iraq, confirms the UK Ministry of Defence. |
| IS (formerly known as Isis) has taken control of large swathes of Iraq and Syria in recent months, declaring a "caliphate", or Islamic state, in the region. | IS (formerly known as Isis) has taken control of large swathes of Iraq and Syria in recent months, declaring a "caliphate", or Islamic state, in the region. |
| 'Indiscriminately attacked' | 'Indiscriminately attacked' |
| A US military statement said Sunday's raids had been aimed at defending members of the Yazidi religious group who were being "indiscriminately attacked" by IS militants near Sinjar. | A US military statement said Sunday's raids had been aimed at defending members of the Yazidi religious group who were being "indiscriminately attacked" by IS militants near Sinjar. |
| IS overran the town of Sinjar last week, prompting thousands of Yazidis to flee. | IS overran the town of Sinjar last week, prompting thousands of Yazidis to flee. |
| The Pentagon also said a third US air-drop of food and water had been made on Saturday night to refugees on Mount Sinjar. | The Pentagon also said a third US air-drop of food and water had been made on Saturday night to refugees on Mount Sinjar. |
| The UN children's agency, Unicef, warned that at least 56 Yazidi children had died of dehydration in the mountains around Sinjar. | The UN children's agency, Unicef, warned that at least 56 Yazidi children had died of dehydration in the mountains around Sinjar. |
| UK officials estimated on Saturday that between 50,000 and 150,000 people could be trapped there. | UK officials estimated on Saturday that between 50,000 and 150,000 people could be trapped there. |
| A Syrian official told AP news agency that more than 20,000 starving Yazidis had fled across the border. | A Syrian official told AP news agency that more than 20,000 starving Yazidis had fled across the border. |
| He said columns of refugees were running a gauntlet of gunfire through a tenuous "safe passage" being defended by forces of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region. | He said columns of refugees were running a gauntlet of gunfire through a tenuous "safe passage" being defended by forces of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region. |
| Amnesty International adviser Donatella Rovera told the BBC that thousands of those trapped on the north side of the mountains had managed to escape, but added: "The most acute situation is for those on the southern side. They cannot get to the safe passage that has been opened." | Amnesty International adviser Donatella Rovera told the BBC that thousands of those trapped on the north side of the mountains had managed to escape, but added: "The most acute situation is for those on the southern side. They cannot get to the safe passage that has been opened." |
| Call for Iraqi unity | Call for Iraqi unity |
| IS seized Qaraqosh, referred to as Iraq's Christian capital, last week. The militants have also captured Mosul dam - the country's largest - where they have hoisted their black flags and are patrolling its perimeter. | IS seized Qaraqosh, referred to as Iraq's Christian capital, last week. The militants have also captured Mosul dam - the country's largest - where they have hoisted their black flags and are patrolling its perimeter. |
| On Saturday, President Obama warned it was "going to take some time" to help Iraqis overcome the jihadist-led rebellion and stabilise their country. | On Saturday, President Obama warned it was "going to take some time" to help Iraqis overcome the jihadist-led rebellion and stabilise their country. |
| It is the first time US forces have been directly involved in a military operation in Iraq since they withdrew from the country in late 2011. | It is the first time US forces have been directly involved in a military operation in Iraq since they withdrew from the country in late 2011. |
| The US has been pressing Iraq's leaders to form a unity government to help tackle the threat from jihadists. | The US has been pressing Iraq's leaders to form a unity government to help tackle the threat from jihadists. |
| Iraqi politicians have been unable to form a government since April's parliamentary elections, which were won by Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's State of Law Coalition. | Iraqi politicians have been unable to form a government since April's parliamentary elections, which were won by Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's State of Law Coalition. |
| Iraq's minorities | Iraq's minorities |
| Christians | Christians |
| Yazidis | Yazidis |
| Iraq: The minorities of Nineveh | Iraq: The minorities of Nineveh |
| Who are the Yazidis? | Who are the Yazidis? |