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Obama authorises US air strikes in Iraq Obama authorises air strikes on Iraq
(35 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama says he has authorised targeted airstrikes against Islamic militants in northern Iraq, if they threaten US interests. US President Barack Obama says he has authorised air strikes against Islamic militants in northern Iraq, if they threaten US interests or to prevent the slaughter of religious minorities.
However, he said US troops would be not be sent back to Iraq. However, the president said US troops would be not be sent back to Iraq.
He said that the US would act to prevent acts of genocide against minority groups.
The US has already made humanitarian air drops to Iraqis under threat from Islamic State (IS) militants.The US has already made humanitarian air drops to Iraqis under threat from Islamic State (IS) militants.
IS has seized Qaraqosh, Iraq's biggest Christian town, prompting residents to flee.IS has seized Qaraqosh, Iraq's biggest Christian town, prompting residents to flee.
US supplies were dropped to members of the Yazidi minority outside Sinjar, a US official said.
Many Yazidi have left their homes, some taking refuge in nearby mountains.
'Coming to help''Coming to help'
"The US cannot and should not intervene every time there is a crisis in the world," said President Obama. Speaking at the White House on Thursday evening after meetings with his national security advisers, Mr Obama said US military aircraft had dropped food and water to members of the Yazidi religious minority community who were trapped on Mount Sinjar by the IS fighters.
"We can act, carefully and responsibly, to prevent a potential act of genocide," he went on. Officials had warned that the Yazidis faced starvation and dehydration if they remained on the mountain, and slaughter at the hands of the IS if they fled.
"Today America is coming to help," said President Obama. "The US cannot and should not intervene every time there is a crisis in the world," Mr Obama said.
He said that US air strikes would target IS fighters, should they move towards Irbil. But he said the US could not turn a "blind eye" to the prospect of violence "on a horrific scale", especially when the Iraqi government had requested assistance.
He added that the US could and should support moderate forces that can bring stability to Iraq. "We can act, carefully and responsibly, to prevent a potential act of genocide," he went on. "Today America is coming to help."
Early the UN Security Council met to discuss the situation. He said that US air strikes would target IS fighters, should the militants' convoys move toward Irbil, where there is a significant presence of US diplomats and military advisers, or threaten Baghdad.
In addition, he authorised strikes "if necessary" to help Iraqi government forces break the siege at Mount Sinjar and rescue the trapped civilians.
He added that the US could and should support moderate forces that could bring stability to Iraq, and he said there was no "American solution" to the turmoil plaguing Iraq.
"The only lasting solution is reconciliation among Iraqi communities and stronger Iraqi security forces," he said.
UN: 'Deeply appalled'UN: 'Deeply appalled'
"The members of the Security Council call on the international community to support the government and people of Iraq and to do all it can to help alleviate the suffering of the population affected by the current conflict in Iraq," said UK ambassador to the UN Mark Lyall Grant after Thursday evening's meeting. The president spoke hours after the UN Security Council met to discuss the situation.
"The members of the Security Council call on the international community to support the government and people of Iraq and to do all it can to help alleviate the suffering of the population affected by the current conflict in Iraq," said UK Ambassador to the UN Mark Lyall Grant.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply appalled".UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply appalled".
Meanwhile, the US has warned that the situation for Iraq's minority groups threatens to become a "humanitarian catastrophe". Meanwhile, the US has warned that the situation for Iraq's minority groups is threatening to become a "humanitarian catastrophe".
IS, a Sunni Muslim group formerly known as Isis, has been gaining ground in northern Iraq since it launched its onslaught in June. It also controls parts of Syria.IS, a Sunni Muslim group formerly known as Isis, has been gaining ground in northern Iraq since it launched its onslaught in June. It also controls parts of Syria.
IS says it has created an Islamic state in the territory it controls.IS says it has created an Islamic state in the territory it controls.
In other developments:In other developments:
'Catastrophe''Catastrophe'
As many as 100,000 Christians are believed to have fled, and most of them are thought to have gone toward the autonomous Kurdistan Region. As many as 100,000 Christians are believed to have fled their homes ahead of the IS advance, and most of them are thought to have gone toward the autonomous Kurdistan Region.
Kurdish forces, known as the Peshmerga, have been fighting the IS militants' advance in the area around Qaraqosh for weeks, but on Wednesday night it appears they abandoned their posts. Kurdish forces, known as the Peshmerga, have been fighting the IS militants' advance in the area around Qaraqosh for weeks, but on Wednesday night it appeared they had abandoned their posts.
"It's a catastrophe, a tragic situation: tens of thousands of terrified people are being displaced as we speak," said Joseph Thomas, the Chaldean archbishop of the northern city of Kirkuk."It's a catastrophe, a tragic situation: tens of thousands of terrified people are being displaced as we speak," said Joseph Thomas, the Chaldean archbishop of the northern city of Kirkuk.
Eyewitnesses in Qaraqosh said IS militants were taking down crosses in churches and burning religious manuscripts.Eyewitnesses in Qaraqosh said IS militants were taking down crosses in churches and burning religious manuscripts.
Pope Francis has made an impassioned appeal to the international community to do much more to address the crisis.Pope Francis has made an impassioned appeal to the international community to do much more to address the crisis.
Last month, hundreds of Christian families fled nearby Mosul after the Islamist rebels gave them an ultimatum to convert to Islam, pay a special tax or be executed. Last month, hundreds of Christian families fled nearby Mosul after the Islamist rebels gave them an ultimatum to convert to Islam, pay a special tax, or be executed.
Iraq is home to one of the world's most ancient Christian communities, but numbers have dwindled amid growing sectarian violence since the US-led invasion in 2003.Iraq is home to one of the world's most ancient Christian communities, but numbers have dwindled amid growing sectarian violence since the US-led invasion in 2003.
Plight of the Yazidis About 50,000 Yazidis, meanwhile, are thought to have been trapped in the mountains after fleeing the town of Sinjar over the weekend - although the UN says some of them have now been rescued.
About 50,000 Yazidis are thought to have been trapped in the mountains after fleeing the town of Sinjar over the weekend - although the UN says some of them have now been rescued.
Almost 200,000 civilians have been displaced from Sinjar town, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has warned.Almost 200,000 civilians have been displaced from Sinjar town, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has warned.
Those trapped on the mountain are facing dehydration, and 40 children are reported to have died already.Those trapped on the mountain are facing dehydration, and 40 children are reported to have died already.
Iraq's minoritiesIraq's minorities
ChristiansChristians
YazidisYazidis
Iraq: The minorities of NinevehIraq: The minorities of Nineveh