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| RAF Tornado jets leave UK for Iraq aid mission | RAF Tornado jets leave UK for Iraq aid mission |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| RAF Tornado jets have left the UK for Cyprus from where they are set to help efforts to deliver aid to refugees trapped on a mountain in northern Iraq. | RAF Tornado jets have left the UK for Cyprus from where they are set to help efforts to deliver aid to refugees trapped on a mountain in northern Iraq. |
| Three aircraft left shortly after 14:00 BST and will carry out surveillance ahead of airdrops to refugees. | Three aircraft left shortly after 14:00 BST and will carry out surveillance ahead of airdrops to refugees. |
| The Ministry of Defence said RAF cargo planes dropped a further two consignments of aid on Monday night. | The Ministry of Defence said RAF cargo planes dropped a further two consignments of aid on Monday night. |
| Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond is chairing a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee. | Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond is chairing a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee. |
| It comes as former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell has added his voice to mounting calls for Parliament to reconvene to discuss Britain's response. | It comes as former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell has added his voice to mounting calls for Parliament to reconvene to discuss Britain's response. |
| "The government would be well advised to recall Parliament," he said, to share with MPs "everything that the government has done and - at the moment at least - is intending to do". | "The government would be well advised to recall Parliament," he said, to share with MPs "everything that the government has done and - at the moment at least - is intending to do". |
| Arriving before the Cobra meeting, Mr Hammond was asked by reporters if MPs should be recalled to Westminster, but replied: "Not for the moment, no." | Arriving before the Cobra meeting, Mr Hammond was asked by reporters if MPs should be recalled to Westminster, but replied: "Not for the moment, no." |
| Humanitarian role | Humanitarian role |
| The Tornados left RAF Marham, in Norfolk, destined for RAF Akrotiri, in Cyprus. | The Tornados left RAF Marham, in Norfolk, destined for RAF Akrotiri, in Cyprus. |
| The MoD would not say how many jets are taking part in the mission, but BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said it was likely to be between six and eight Tornados. | The MoD would not say how many jets are taking part in the mission, but BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said it was likely to be between six and eight Tornados. |
| He said the MoD had stressed the jets would be taking on a humanitarian role and helping to identify safe areas on the ground on Mount Sinjar for supplies to be dropped. | He said the MoD had stressed the jets would be taking on a humanitarian role and helping to identify safe areas on the ground on Mount Sinjar for supplies to be dropped. |
| The Tornados have been equipped with reconnaissance pods, which will be used to carry out surveillance to help the RAF C-130 Hercules cargo planes target where humanitarian supplies should be dropped. | The Tornados have been equipped with reconnaissance pods, which will be used to carry out surveillance to help the RAF C-130 Hercules cargo planes target where humanitarian supplies should be dropped. |
| BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said the government was also considering sending Chinook helicopters to Iraq. | BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said the government was also considering sending Chinook helicopters to Iraq. |
| He said Whitehall sources had confirmed their possible use was part of ongoing "prudent planning". | He said Whitehall sources had confirmed their possible use was part of ongoing "prudent planning". |
| Our correspondent said it was "inconceivable" that the RAF Tornados would not be armed during flights over Iraq. But he said any prospect of UK planes taking part in strikes "does not seem to be likely at the moment". | Our correspondent said it was "inconceivable" that the RAF Tornados would not be armed during flights over Iraq. But he said any prospect of UK planes taking part in strikes "does not seem to be likely at the moment". |
| He said the UK government would have to discuss any potential plans to carry out airstrikes in Iraq with the government of Cyprus - where the Tornados will be based. | He said the UK government would have to discuss any potential plans to carry out airstrikes in Iraq with the government of Cyprus - where the Tornados will be based. |
| BBC correspondent Andrew Plant, at Cotswold Airport | BBC correspondent Andrew Plant, at Cotswold Airport |
| The pallets of aid here at the UK Aid warehouse are about 1.5 metres cubed in size and they are stacked from floor to ceiling, ten pallets high. Here and there are empty spaces where aid has already been removed to be dropped in Iraq. | The pallets of aid here at the UK Aid warehouse are about 1.5 metres cubed in size and they are stacked from floor to ceiling, ten pallets high. Here and there are empty spaces where aid has already been removed to be dropped in Iraq. |
| On a table there are some of the supplies laid out, including a large white tarpaulin for refugees to use to shelter from Iraq's blazing sun. | On a table there are some of the supplies laid out, including a large white tarpaulin for refugees to use to shelter from Iraq's blazing sun. |
| There is what looks like a yellow jerrycan, which can be filled with dirty water. A few pumps of a handle makes fresh water dribble from the other end. The filter will last for around two years, giving thousands of litres of drinking water. | There is what looks like a yellow jerrycan, which can be filled with dirty water. A few pumps of a handle makes fresh water dribble from the other end. The filter will last for around two years, giving thousands of litres of drinking water. |
| Lastly, there is a solar-powered lamp, which has a multi-head adaptor so it can be plugged into mobile phones to charge them. | Lastly, there is a solar-powered lamp, which has a multi-head adaptor so it can be plugged into mobile phones to charge them. |
| That is important for aid agencies, as they need to be able to talk to people on the ground in Iraq to establish where they are and what they need. | That is important for aid agencies, as they need to be able to talk to people on the ground in Iraq to establish where they are and what they need. |
| Mobile phones are the best way to do that. | Mobile phones are the best way to do that. |
| 'Life-saving assistance' | 'Life-saving assistance' |
| US forces have carried out four rounds of air strikes targeting IS militants near Irbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. | US forces have carried out four rounds of air strikes targeting IS militants near Irbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. |
| It comes as Islamic State (IS) fighters have seized territory across Iraq and Syria in the past few months, as well as continuing reports of the slaughter of Iraqi religious minority groups. | It comes as Islamic State (IS) fighters have seized territory across Iraq and Syria in the past few months, as well as continuing reports of the slaughter of Iraqi religious minority groups. |
| Among those reportedly being targeted by the jihadists are Iraqi Christians and members of the Yazidi sect. Thousands of Yazidi civilians have been trapped on the Sinjar mountains. | Among those reportedly being targeted by the jihadists are Iraqi Christians and members of the Yazidi sect. Thousands of Yazidi civilians have been trapped on the Sinjar mountains. |
| The United Nations warned that several thousand civilians remain trapped by militants on the mountains and need "life-saving assistance", saying an estimated 700,000 Yazidis had been displaced. | |
| The UN Refugee Agency said around 35,000 people had escaped from the Sinjar mountains into Syria and then into the Kurdistan region of Iraq in the last three days. | |
| It said most were "exhausted, dehydrated and many have suffered sun or heat stroke". But it said "an estimated 20,000 to 30,000" remain trapped. | |
| Mirza Dinnay, a Yazidi relief worker, who was on board an Iraqi Air Force helicopter evacuating the trapped refugees, described the situation on the ground as "a genocide". | |
| He told the BBC he had seen what looks like hundreds of dead bodies on the ground and said people had fought to get on board the helicopter after they landed. | He told the BBC he had seen what looks like hundreds of dead bodies on the ground and said people had fought to get on board the helicopter after they landed. |
| 'Deeply worrying' | 'Deeply worrying' |
| On Monday night, RAF crews dropped supplies including 3,180 reusable water purification containers containing a total of 15,900 litres of clean water, and 816 solar lamps that can also be used to charge mobile phones. | On Monday night, RAF crews dropped supplies including 3,180 reusable water purification containers containing a total of 15,900 litres of clean water, and 816 solar lamps that can also be used to charge mobile phones. |
| The first drop took place on Saturday, delivering 1,200 water containers and 240 solar lanterns. | The first drop took place on Saturday, delivering 1,200 water containers and 240 solar lanterns. |
| A further drop planned for Sunday night had to be abandoned because of fears that people could be injured by the cargo. | A further drop planned for Sunday night had to be abandoned because of fears that people could be injured by the cargo. |
| International Development Secretary Justine Greening said the humanitarian situation in Iraq was "deeply worrying". | International Development Secretary Justine Greening said the humanitarian situation in Iraq was "deeply worrying". |
| "IS terrorists continue to contest towns and villages south of Irbil and in the Sinjar area and the Yazidi community face appalling conditions, cut off on Mount Sinjar. | "IS terrorists continue to contest towns and villages south of Irbil and in the Sinjar area and the Yazidi community face appalling conditions, cut off on Mount Sinjar. |
| "UK aid is already helping the people who desperately need it." | "UK aid is already helping the people who desperately need it." |
| Downing Street has said the government is working closely with Iraqi, Kurdish and international representatives to "mitigate safety concerns" that led to the cancellation of Sunday's delivery. | Downing Street has said the government is working closely with Iraqi, Kurdish and international representatives to "mitigate safety concerns" that led to the cancellation of Sunday's delivery. |
| No 10 said in a statement: "The challenge of getting aid safely to those on the mountain reinforces the need for a long-term solution that gets these people to safety." | No 10 said in a statement: "The challenge of getting aid safely to those on the mountain reinforces the need for a long-term solution that gets these people to safety." |
| Ms Greening has also announced that four organisations - Mercy Corps, Save the Children, the International Rescue Committee and Action Against Hunger - are to share the £3m earmarked by the British government for charities operating in Iraq. | Ms Greening has also announced that four organisations - Mercy Corps, Save the Children, the International Rescue Committee and Action Against Hunger - are to share the £3m earmarked by the British government for charities operating in Iraq. |
| Meanwhile, a senior retired British general has accused the UK government of being "commitment-phobic" over the crisis, telling the Times that politicians were "terrified of any form of intervention" ahead of next year's general election. | Meanwhile, a senior retired British general has accused the UK government of being "commitment-phobic" over the crisis, telling the Times that politicians were "terrified of any form of intervention" ahead of next year's general election. |
| Sir Richard Shirreff said: "What we have got is this commitment-phobic government that is terrified of being seen to be putting boots on the ground at a time when they are trying to extract from everything." | Sir Richard Shirreff said: "What we have got is this commitment-phobic government that is terrified of being seen to be putting boots on the ground at a time when they are trying to extract from everything." |
| Who are the Yazidis? | Who are the Yazidis? |