President Barack Obama Authorise Air Strikes Against Islamic Militants In Northern Iraq

US President Barack Obama has authorized air strikes against Islamic militants in northern Iraq, to prevent the slaughter of religious minorities and protect the interest of the United States.  

However, the President said US troops would not be sent back to Iraq. 

The US has already made humanitarian air drops to Iraqis under threats from Islamic State militants.  

Islamic State has seized Qaraqosh, Iraq's biggest Christian town, prompting residents to flee.  

Speaking at the White House 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 Islamic State fighters.  

President Obama says the US is not supposed to intervene every time there is a crisis in the
world, but they can not turn a blind eye to the prospect of violence "on a horrific scale", especially when the Iraqi government had requested assistance.

The authorised air strikes if necessary are to help Iraqi government forces break the siege on Mount Sinjar and rescue the trapped civilians.

BBC