Obama authorizes airstrikes in north Iraq

President Obama said late Thursday that there was no U.S. military solution for Iraq’s crisis.

President Obama said late Thursday that there was no U.S. military solution for Iraq’s crisis.

President Barack Obama late Thursday authorized U.S. airstrikes in northern Iraq but emphasized that no American combat troops will be back on ground in the Middle Eastern country, The Associated Press reported.

Obama warned that the airstrikes would be launched if needed to defend Americans from advancing Islamic militants and protect civilians under siege.

“Today America is coming to help,” The Associated Press quoted him as saying in a televised late-night statement Thursday from the White House.

His announcement threatened a renewal of U.S. military involvement in the country’s long sectarian war.

Possible genocide

The announcements reflected the deepest American engagement in Iraq since U.S. troops withdrew in late 2011 after nearly a decade of war. Obama, who made his remarks in a steady and somber tone, has staked much of his legacy as president on ending what he has called the “dumb war” in Iraq.

Obama also said U.S. military has dropped humanitarian aid to tens of thousands of Iraqi religious minorities besieged by militants and desperately in need of food and water to prevent a possible genocide.

The president said the humanitarian airdrops were made at the request of the Iraqi government.

The food and water supplies were delivered to the tens of thousands of Yazidis trapped on a mountain without food and water. 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.

Mindful of the public’s aversion to another lengthy war, Obama acknowledged that the prospect of a new round of U.S. military action would be a cause for concern among many Americans.

No U.S. military solution

He vowed anew not to put American combat troops back on the ground in Iraq and said there was no U.S. 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 if the Islamic State militants advance on American troops in the northern city of Irbil and the U.S. 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.

U.S. help

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 (20,063 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 U.S. 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 U.S. was prepared to undertake additional humanitarian airdrops if necessary, though they did not say how quickly those missions could occur.

New route for Turkish trucks

In a related story, Iran has given permission for Turkish trucks travelling to northern Iraq to pass through Iran due to the advance of ISIS militants in the region, Iranian Trade Minister Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh said on Friday.

 
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