The US president told Iraq's minorities: "America is coming"
US President Barack Obama says he has
authorised air strikes against Islamic
militants in northern Iraq but will not
send US troops back to the country.
authorised air strikes against Islamic
militants in northern Iraq but will not
send US troops back to the country.
He said Islamic State (IS) fighters would be targeted to
prevent the slaughter of religious minorities, or if they threaten
US interests.
prevent the slaughter of religious minorities, or if they threaten
US interests.
Strikes have not yet begun, but the US has made humanitarian
air drops to Iraqis under threat from the militants.
air drops to Iraqis under threat from the militants.
IS has seized Qaraqosh, Iraq's biggest Christian town, forcing
locals to flee.
locals to flee.
The Sunni Muslim group, formerly known as Isis, has been
gaining ground in northern Iraq and Syria for several months.
gaining ground in northern Iraq and Syria for several months.
In a rapid advance in June the group took control of the
northern city of Mosul and advanced south towards Baghdad.
northern city of Mosul and advanced south towards Baghdad.
It now controls large swathes of Iraq and Syria and says
it has created an Islamic caliphate in its territory.
'Coming to help'it has created an Islamic caliphate in its territory.
Speaking at the White House, Mr Obama said US
military aircraft had already dropped food and water to
members of the Yazidi religious minority community trapped
on Mount Sinjar by IS fighters.
military aircraft had already dropped food and water to
members of the Yazidi religious minority community trapped
on Mount Sinjar by IS fighters.
The UN estimates that about 200,000 civilians have been
displaced from the town of Sinjar and about 50,000 Yazidis are
thought to have been trapped on the mountain.
displaced from the town of Sinjar and about 50,000 Yazidis are
thought to have been trapped on the mountain.
The Yazidis face starvation and dehydration if they remain
on the mountain, and slaughter at the hands of the IS if they flee,
officials have warned.
on the mountain, and slaughter at the hands of the IS if they flee,
officials have warned.
Tens of thousands of Iraqi Christians and Yazidis are understood to have fled their homes in northern Iraq, as James Robbins reports
Mr Obama said the Iraqi government had requested assistance
and the US would act "carefully and responsibly, to prevent
a potential act of genocide".
and the US would act "carefully and responsibly, to prevent
a potential act of genocide".
US air strikes would target IS fighters if they threaten Baghdad
or move towards the Kurdish capital of Irbil, where there is a
significant presence of US diplomats and military advisers,
Mr Obama said.
or move towards the Kurdish capital of Irbil, where there is a
significant presence of US diplomats and military advisers,
Mr Obama said.
In addition, he authorised strikes "if necessary" to help Iraqi
government forces break the siege at Mount Sinjar and rescue
the trapped civilians.
government forces break the siege at Mount Sinjar and rescue
the trapped civilians.
"The only lasting solution is reconciliation among Iraqi communities
and stronger Iraqi security forces," Mr Obama added.
and stronger Iraqi security forces," Mr Obama added.
For a president still busy withdrawing his troops from Afghanistan,
the situation in northern Iraq has proved decisive.
the situation in northern Iraq has proved decisive.
Doing nothing here was not an option and the US could not turn a
blind eye to what Mr Obama called the systematic destruction of
Christians and Yazidis.
blind eye to what Mr Obama called the systematic destruction of
Christians and Yazidis.
He employed strong language to seek justification. It was, he said,
to prevent acts of genocide.
to prevent acts of genocide.
It is a hugely symbolic and potent term for a president who a year ago
decided against military intervention in Syria. And that was after a
red line had been crossed and chemical weapons had been used.
decided against military intervention in Syria. And that was after a
red line had been crossed and chemical weapons had been used.
This time, just across the border, the White House has a specific
goal - the protection of US assets and embassy personnel in Iraq
and to bring urgent relief to the civilians affected.
goal - the protection of US assets and embassy personnel in Iraq
and to bring urgent relief to the civilians affected.
But to critics it is too limited an operation that will do little to diminish
the power of the Islamic State jihadists.
the power of the Islamic State jihadists.
The president spoke hours after the UN Security Council met.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply appalled"
by the situation.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply appalled"
by the situation.
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.
homes ahead of the IS advance, and most of them are thought to
have gone toward the autonomous Kurdistan Region.
Kurdish forces have been fighting IS for weeks, but on Wednesday
it appeared they had abandoned their posts in Qaraqosh.
Eyewitnesses said the militants had taken down crosses in
churches and burned religious manuscripts.
it appeared they had abandoned their posts in Qaraqosh.
Eyewitnesses said the militants had taken down crosses in
churches and burned religious manuscripts.
Canon Andrew White: "The international community has got to wake up to the needs of the people"
Last month, hundreds of Christian families fled Mosul after
rebels gave them an ultimatum to convert to Islam, pay a special
tax, or be executed.
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.
communities, but numbers have dwindled amid growing sectarian
violence since the US-led invasion in 2003.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has faced calls from Sunni Arab,
Kurdish and some Shia Arab leaders to step down because of
his handling of the security crisis, as well as what they say
are the sectarian and authoritarian policies he pursued during his
previous two terms in office.
Kurdish and some Shia Arab leaders to step down because of
his handling of the security crisis, as well as what they say
are the sectarian and authoritarian policies he pursued during his
previous two terms in office.
But as leader of the bloc that won the most seats in April's parliamentary
elections, Mr Maliki has demanded the right to attempt to form a governing
coalition.
elections, Mr Maliki has demanded the right to attempt to form a governing
coalition.
Christians
- The majority are Chaldeans, part of the Catholic Church
- Numbers have fallen from around 1.5 million since the US-led invasion in 2003 to 350,000-450,000
- In Nineveh, they live mainly in towns such as Qaraqosh(also known as Baghdida), Bartella, Al-Hamdaniya and Tel Kef
Yazidis
- Secretive group whose origins and ethnicity are subject to continuing debate
- Religion incorporates elements of many faiths, including Zoroastrianism
- Many Muslims and other groups view Yazidis as devil worshippers
- There are estimated to be around 500,000 Yazidis worldwide, most living in Iraq's Nineveh plains
Source; BBC News
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