This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-28767183
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
Iraq: US sends more military advisers to Kurdistan | Iraq: US sends more military advisers to Kurdistan |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The US has sent 130 more military advisers to the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel says. | The US has sent 130 more military advisers to the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel says. |
The marines and special operations forces will assess the humanitarian situation and will not be engaged in combat, a US defence official said. | The marines and special operations forces will assess the humanitarian situation and will not be engaged in combat, a US defence official said. |
The US has been carrying out air strikes against fighters from militant group Islamic State (IS). | The US has been carrying out air strikes against fighters from militant group Islamic State (IS). |
IS fighters have forced tens of thousands to flee their homes. | IS fighters have forced tens of thousands to flee their homes. |
"This is not a combat boots on the ground kind of operation," Mr Hagel said, in remarks made at Camp Pendleton in California. | "This is not a combat boots on the ground kind of operation," Mr Hagel said, in remarks made at Camp Pendleton in California. |
The "assessment team members" had arrived in the northern city of Irbil and would "give more in-depth assessment of where we can continue to help," he said. | The "assessment team members" had arrived in the northern city of Irbil and would "give more in-depth assessment of where we can continue to help," he said. |
'Acts of genocide' | 'Acts of genocide' |
The personnel are in addition to about 250 military advisers already in Iraq. | The personnel are in addition to about 250 military advisers already in Iraq. |
A US defence official said the government would continue to explore ways to support "Iraqis affected by the ongoing fighting in Sinjar", and to prevent "potential acts of genocide" by IS. | A US defence official said the government would continue to explore ways to support "Iraqis affected by the ongoing fighting in Sinjar", and to prevent "potential acts of genocide" by IS. |
The UN has said that tens of thousands of civilians, including members of the Yazidi sect, are trapped on Sinjar mountain by IS fighters and need "life-saving assistance". | The UN has said that tens of thousands of civilians, including members of the Yazidi sect, are trapped on Sinjar mountain by IS fighters and need "life-saving assistance". |
The US, Britain and France have been delivering humanitarian aid to the Yazidis trapped in the north. | The US, Britain and France have been delivering humanitarian aid to the Yazidis trapped in the north. |
UK Royal Air Force jets have arrived in Cyprus to support aid delivery efforts by helping Hercules cargo planes identify safe areas on the ground to drop supplies. | |
The US government says its planes have air-dropped nearly 100,000 meals and more than 27,000 gallons (123,000 litres) of fresh drinking water to the area, with the latest operation taking place on Tuesday. | The US government says its planes have air-dropped nearly 100,000 meals and more than 27,000 gallons (123,000 litres) of fresh drinking water to the area, with the latest operation taking place on Tuesday. |
The US has also reportedly begun supplying weapons to the Kurdish forces, known as Peshmergas, who have been fighting IS in the north. | The US has also reportedly begun supplying weapons to the Kurdish forces, known as Peshmergas, who have been fighting IS in the north. |
Meanwhile, a suicide bomber attacked a checkpoint near the home of newly-appointed Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Baghdad, Reuters news agency reported, citing security sources and local media. | Meanwhile, a suicide bomber attacked a checkpoint near the home of newly-appointed Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Baghdad, Reuters news agency reported, citing security sources and local media. |
There were no immediate details on casualties. | There were no immediate details on casualties. |
Iraq's president asked Mr Abadi to form a new cabinet on Monday, snubbing the incumbent PM Nouri Maliki. | Iraq's president asked Mr Abadi to form a new cabinet on Monday, snubbing the incumbent PM Nouri Maliki. |
The move came after months of political infighting, which experts say has contributed to Iraq's inability to fight the IS threat. | The move came after months of political infighting, which experts say has contributed to Iraq's inability to fight the IS threat. |
Analysis: Jim Muir, BBC Middle East correspondent | Analysis: Jim Muir, BBC Middle East correspondent |
Mr Abadi is certainly off to a flying start, given the near-universal relief that an alternative to the contentious Mr Maliki has finally emerged. | Mr Abadi is certainly off to a flying start, given the near-universal relief that an alternative to the contentious Mr Maliki has finally emerged. |
But he faces a gargantuan task. | But he faces a gargantuan task. |
Pulling the fragments of Iraq back together, and especially bringing the suspicious Sunnis back on board, is going to take a lot more than pious words and good intentions. | Pulling the fragments of Iraq back together, and especially bringing the suspicious Sunnis back on board, is going to take a lot more than pious words and good intentions. |
Read more: Iraq PM left out as country moves on | Read more: Iraq PM left out as country moves on |
The UN says there are now an estimated 1.2 million internally displaced Iraqis. | The UN says there are now an estimated 1.2 million internally displaced Iraqis. |
The rapid advance across Iraq by IS militant fighters has thrown the country into chaos. | The rapid advance across Iraq by IS militant fighters has thrown the country into chaos. |
IS overran Iraq's second largest city, Mosul, in June. Its fighters had taken the central city of Falluja and parts of nearby Ramadi in December 2013. | IS overran Iraq's second largest city, Mosul, in June. Its fighters had taken the central city of Falluja and parts of nearby Ramadi in December 2013. |
On 29 June, IS said it had created a caliphate, or Islamic state, stretching from Aleppo in Syria to the province of Diyala in Iraq. | On 29 June, IS said it had created a caliphate, or Islamic state, stretching from Aleppo in Syria to the province of Diyala in Iraq. |
Are you in Northern Iraq? Do you have friends or family in the area? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Iraq' in the heading, and include your contact details. | Are you in Northern Iraq? Do you have friends or family in the area? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Iraq' in the heading, and include your contact details. |