Barack Obama today authorised air strikes against Islamic fighters who are threatening “a potential act of genocide” in northern Iraq.
The White House said that the air strikes would be limited in number and used only to support aid work.
Meanwhile, David Cameron strongly condemned the “slaughter” of non-Muslims but stopped short of saying Britain would join military action.
However, leaders of Yazidi communities fleeing massacres begged for large-scale intervention by the West to protect them from Islamic State militants, commonly called Isis. In a moving telephone call to the BBC, one Yazidi community leader said: “Send us urgent support. We are facing certain death. If they cannot rescue us, I want them to bomb us and wipe us out. We would rather that than be captured and killed by Isis.”
He said that 22 children had died in his group in recent days because of a lack of food and water.
Isis has seized Qaraqosh, Iraq’s biggest Christian town, among many gains across northern Iraq and Syria and the US president said: “Today America is coming to help. When we have unique capabilities to act to avoid a massacre, I believe the United States cannot turn a blind eye.”
President Obama said Isis forces would be targeted to prevent the massacre of religious minorities, or if they threaten US interests.
Mr Cameron condemned “the barbaric attacks being waged” and the plight of Yazidi people trapped on Mount Sinjar. “They fear slaughter if they descend back down the slopes but face starvation and dehydration if they remain on the mountain,” he said. “The world must help them in their hour of desperate need.”
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon chaired a Cobra emergency committee meeting today to plan aid drops.
