US fighters dropped bombs
on Islamic militants in Iraq Friday, the
Pentagon said, carrying out President
Barack Obama's promise of military force
to counter the advancing militants and
confront the threat they pose to Iraqi
civilians and Americans still stationed
there.
Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm. John
Kirby said that two F/A-18 jets dropped
500-pound (227-kilogram) bombs on a
piece of artillery and the truck towing it.
Kirby said the fighters had taken off
from the aircraft carrier USS George HW
Bush in the Persian Gulf to conduct the
mission. He said it wasn't clear how many
militants might have been killed in the
strike.
The Pentagon said the militants were
using the artillery to shell Kurdish forces
defending Irbil.
For the United States, it was a re-
engagement in the long sectarian war
from which American combat forces had
been withdrawn — on President Barack
Obama's orders — in late 2011.
In a televised speech Thursday night,
Obama threatened to renew US military
involvement. At the same time, he
announced that US military planes already
had carried out airdrops of food and
water, at the request of the Iraqi
government, to tens of thousands of Iraqi
religious minorities atop a mountain
surrounded by militants and desperately
in need of supplies.
"America is coming to help," Obama
declared.
The Yazidis, who follow an ancient religion
with ties to Zoroastrianism, fled their
homes after the Islamic State group
issued an ultimatum to convert to Islam,
pay a religious fine, flee their homes or
face death.
"Earlier this week, one Iraqi in the area
cried to the world, 'There is no one coming
to help.' Well, today, America is coming to
help," Obama said. "We're also consulting
with other countries — and the United
Nations — who have called for action to
address this humanitarian crisis."
The announcement reflected the deepest
American engagement in Iraq since US
troops left.
Obama, who made his remarks in a steady
and somber tone, has staked much of his
legacy as president on ending what he
once called the "dumb war" in Iraq.
Mindful of the public's aversion to another
lengthy war, Obama acknowledged that
the prospect of a new round of US
military action would be a cause for
concern among many Americans. He vowed
anew not to put American combat troops
back on the ground in Iraq and said there
was no US military solution to the crisis.
"As commander in chief, I will not allow
the United States to be dragged into
fighting another war in Iraq," Obama said.
Even so, he outlined a rationale for
airstrikes in the event the Islamic State
militants advanced on American troops in
Irbil and the US consulate there in the
Kurdish region of Iraq. The troops were
sent to Iraq earlier this year as part of
the White House response to the extremist
group's swift movement across the border
with Syria and into Iraq.
"When the lives of American citizens are
at risk, we will take action," Obama said.
"That's my responsibility as commander in
chief."
He said he had also authorized the use of
targeted military strikes if necessary to
help the Iraqi security forces protect
civilians.
Obama spoke following a day of urgent
discussions with his national security team.
He addressed the nation only after the
American military aircraft delivering food
and water to the Iraqis had safely left
the drop site in northern Iraq.
The Pentagon said the airdrops were
performed by one C-17 and two C-130
cargo aircraft that together delivered a
total of 72 bundles of food and water.
They were escorted by two F/A-18
fighters from an undisclosed air base in
the region.
The planes delivered 5,300 gallons (20,000
liters) of fresh drinking water and 8,000
pre-packaged meals and were over the
drop area for less than 15 minutes at a
low altitude.
The president cast the mission to assist
the Yazidis as part of the American
mandate to assist around the world when
the US has the unique capabilities to help
avert a massacre.
In those cases, Obama said, "we can act
carefully and responsibly to prevent a
potential act of genocide."
Officials said the US was prepared to
undertake additional humanitarian
airdrops if necessary, though they did not
say how quickly those missions could occur.
Administration officials had said earlier
they believed unilateral US strikes would
be consistent with international law, in
part because the Iraqi government has
asked for Washington to take military
action. They also said Obama had the
constitutional authority to act on his own
in order to protect American citizens.
Obama had similarly authorized strikes in
Syria last summer after chemical weapons
were deployed, but those attacks were
never carried out, in part because of
domestic political concerns and also
because an international agreement to
strip Syria of its stockpiles of the deadly
gases.
The president has also faced persistent
calls to take military action in Syria on
humanitarian grounds, given that more
than 170,000 people have been killed
there.
Critics, including some Republicans in
Congress, have argued that Obama's
cautious approach to Syria has allowed the
Islamic State group to flourish there,
growing strong enough to move across the
border with Iraq and make swift gains.
Republican Sens. John McCain of Arizona
and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina
praised Obama's proposed actions
Thursday night but said much more will be
necessary.
"This should include the provision of
military and other assistance to our
Kurdish, Iraqi and Syrian partners" who
are fighting the militants, airstrikes
against the militants' leaders and forces
and support for Sunni Iraqis who seek to
resist the extremists, they said in a
statement.
In light of the militants' advances, Obama
dispatched about 800 US forces to Iraq
earlier this year, with those troops largely
split between joint operation centers in
Baghdad and Irbil.
More than half are providing security for
the embassy and US personnel. American
service members also are involved in
improving US intelligence, providing
security cooperation and conducting
assessments of Iraqi capabilities.



Source: http://m.firstpost.com/world/two-us-aircraft-conduct-strike-on-isis-artillery-in-iraq-pentagon-1656367.html