Obama authorises air strikes in Iraq

US President Barack Obama has authorised targeted air strikes against
Sunni fighters in Iraq, saying the measure was meant to avert
"genocide" in the country.


"We can act, carefully and responsibly to prevent a potential act of
genocide," Obama said on Thursday, referring to the Yazidis, a religious
minority group besieged by fighters from the so-called Islamic State.


"I therefore authorised targeted air strikes if necessary to help
forces in Iraq as they fight to break the siege and protect the
civilians trapped there," he said.


Obama did not, however, confirm or deny whether the US had already
carried out air strikes in Iraq as claimed by a spokesman for the
Kurdish peshmerga force.



Obama authorises air strikes in Iraq - Middle East - Al Jazeera English