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| Iraq crisis: Britain told to 'up the ante' with military action against Isis as horrific details emerge of Yazidi nightmare on Mount Sinjar | Iraq crisis: Britain told to 'up the ante' with military action against Isis as horrific details emerge of Yazidi nightmare on Mount Sinjar |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Britain is facing growing pressure to do more to help the tens of thousands trapped on Mount Sinjar in Iraq, as horrific reports continued to emerge of a people in a “scramble for survival”. | Britain is facing growing pressure to do more to help the tens of thousands trapped on Mount Sinjar in Iraq, as horrific reports continued to emerge of a people in a “scramble for survival”. |
| David Cameron has now returned from his holiday a day early to chair a meeting of the Government's emergency committee, Cobra, on the crisis in Iraq. | |
| While up to 50,000 of the ethnic Yazidi minority are thought to remain trapped by Isis militants on the mountain, many others have now made their own gruelling efforts to escape – and have described the brutal nature of their persecution. | While up to 50,000 of the ethnic Yazidi minority are thought to remain trapped by Isis militants on the mountain, many others have now made their own gruelling efforts to escape – and have described the brutal nature of their persecution. |
| Survivors reaching Dohuk in northern Iraq said their nightmare in Sinjar began when the town was shelled by Islamists last week. | Survivors reaching Dohuk in northern Iraq said their nightmare in Sinjar began when the town was shelled by Islamists last week. |
| The Kurdish-speaking population fled up the mountain – a barren landscape ill-equipped to cater for the needs of so many desperate people. | The Kurdish-speaking population fled up the mountain – a barren landscape ill-equipped to cater for the needs of so many desperate people. |
| Khalaf Hajji, who used to work at a school, said: “When we went up the mountain, snipers were firing at us. The girls were throwing themselves off the top of the mountain. We have lost all our faith in Iraq. They have hundreds of our women.” | Khalaf Hajji, who used to work at a school, said: “When we went up the mountain, snipers were firing at us. The girls were throwing themselves off the top of the mountain. We have lost all our faith in Iraq. They have hundreds of our women.” |
| Speaking to BBC Breakfast from Irbil this morning, a volunteer who helped drop aid to the Yazidis said they tried to rescue as many as they could. | Speaking to BBC Breakfast from Irbil this morning, a volunteer who helped drop aid to the Yazidis said they tried to rescue as many as they could. |
| Taban Sami Shoresh said: “Mount Sinjar is completely hemmed by Isis terrorists so they have no way out. They are completely trapped. So when we deliver aid it's their only hope and their only way out. | Taban Sami Shoresh said: “Mount Sinjar is completely hemmed by Isis terrorists so they have no way out. They are completely trapped. So when we deliver aid it's their only hope and their only way out. |
| “When the helicopter landed I've never seen so many people scramble for survival. You forget who you are. All they wanted to do was get on the plane to be saved, and we could only take so much. It's horrific. It's heartbreaking to see. | “When the helicopter landed I've never seen so many people scramble for survival. You forget who you are. All they wanted to do was get on the plane to be saved, and we could only take so much. It's horrific. It's heartbreaking to see. |
| Displaced Yazidi people fleeing violence from Isis forces make their way towards the Syrian border | |
| “The world needs to open up their eyes to try and help them. We can't watch 30,000 people just die. That's complete genocide.” | “The world needs to open up their eyes to try and help them. We can't watch 30,000 people just die. That's complete genocide.” |
| The RAF has now made five successful aid drops on Mount Sinjar over the course of three nights, including thousands of reusable water purification containers and shelter kits to provide shade from the 40C (104F) heat. | The RAF has now made five successful aid drops on Mount Sinjar over the course of three nights, including thousands of reusable water purification containers and shelter kits to provide shade from the 40C (104F) heat. |
| But among those calling for David Cameron to do more was Colonel Tim Collins, famous for the inspirational speech he delivered to troops on the eve of the 2003 Iraq War. | But among those calling for David Cameron to do more was Colonel Tim Collins, famous for the inspirational speech he delivered to troops on the eve of the 2003 Iraq War. |
| Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said the aid drops were a “pebble in the ocean” and that ancient civilisations could be “extinguished” if Britain does not send in troops as well as arming and training the Kurdish Peshmerga fighters. | Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said the aid drops were a “pebble in the ocean” and that ancient civilisations could be “extinguished” if Britain does not send in troops as well as arming and training the Kurdish Peshmerga fighters. |
| The former Defence Secretary Liam Fox has also demanded Britain join the US raids on the IS militants. | The former Defence Secretary Liam Fox has also demanded Britain join the US raids on the IS militants. |
| He backed the use of the military to protect Iraqi civilians from “barbaric” jihadists, writing in the Mail that the West’s reaction to the crisis had been “catastrophic complacency”. | He backed the use of the military to protect Iraqi civilians from “barbaric” jihadists, writing in the Mail that the West’s reaction to the crisis had been “catastrophic complacency”. |
| An RAF Tornado on arrival at RAF Akrotiri Cyprus for reconnaissance missions over Iraq General Sir Mike Jackson, professional head of the Army during the Iraq War, said there is a “moral duty” to help with the humanitarian response. | |
| He told the newspaper he would have “no difficulty at all” in saying the UK should be alongside the US to up the “British ante” to the use of airpower on humanitarian grounds. | He told the newspaper he would have “no difficulty at all” in saying the UK should be alongside the US to up the “British ante” to the use of airpower on humanitarian grounds. |
| Labour’s Douglas Alexander, the shadow Foreign Secretary, welcomed the use of British military assets to help provide aid – but stopped short of joining calls for the UK to take part in a US-style direct intervention. | Labour’s Douglas Alexander, the shadow Foreign Secretary, welcomed the use of British military assets to help provide aid – but stopped short of joining calls for the UK to take part in a US-style direct intervention. |
| And the Labour MP Graham Allen hit out at those calling for UK air strikes, saying: “Many MPs who voted for the Iraq war, started this blood-letting and the creation of Isis, have learnt nothing and bay for yet more violence.” | And the Labour MP Graham Allen hit out at those calling for UK air strikes, saying: “Many MPs who voted for the Iraq war, started this blood-letting and the creation of Isis, have learnt nothing and bay for yet more violence.” |