Kurdish Security Forces say the U.S. airstrikes helped them to rescue the Yazidis from the Sinjar Mountain
The Peshmergas, Kurdish Security Forces, told Al Jazeera that the United States airstrikes on the Islamic State (IS) locations helped the Kurds to rescue the Yazidis, a Kurdish religious minority, from the Sinjar Mountain.
According to Al Jazeera, over 5,000 Yazidis were forced into the mountains after the terrorist group IS took control of Sinjar.
Peshmergas Spokesma Halgord Hikmet told Al Jazeera, “I can confirm that we succeeded in reaching the mountains and opening a road for the refugees.”
On August 5, 2014, IS entered into Sinjar and threatened to execute religious minorities who refused to convert to Islam. Reuters reported that IS killed approximately 500 Yazidis and forced the women, who had not fled to the mountains, into slavery.
During a press conference last Thursday, President Obama told reporters that his decision to authorize the air strikes against IS was due to the increase possibility of a genocide of religious minorities in Iraq and IS moving closer to Erbil and Baghdad, where U.S. personnel are located.
“We can act, carefully and responsibly, to prevent a potential act of genocide. That’s what we’re doing on that mountain. I’ve therefore, authorized targeted air strikes, if necessary, to help forces in Mount Sinjar and protect the civilians trapped there,” said President Obama.
On Saturday, President Obama again addressed the nation about the current situation in Iraq. He reiterated the importance of protecting Iraqi minorities and helping the Kurds and Iraqi government to fight off IS.
President Obama also said that the U.S. will continue the airstrikes against IS and that he had spoken with British Prime Minister David Cameron and France President Francois Hollande about using international humanitarian aid in order to help the Iraqis who've been displaced by IS.
According to Al Jazeera, over 5,000 Yazidis were forced into the mountains after the terrorist group IS took control of Sinjar.
Peshmergas Spokesma Halgord Hikmet told Al Jazeera, “I can confirm that we succeeded in reaching the mountains and opening a road for the refugees.”
On August 5, 2014, IS entered into Sinjar and threatened to execute religious minorities who refused to convert to Islam. Reuters reported that IS killed approximately 500 Yazidis and forced the women, who had not fled to the mountains, into slavery.
During a press conference last Thursday, President Obama told reporters that his decision to authorize the air strikes against IS was due to the increase possibility of a genocide of religious minorities in Iraq and IS moving closer to Erbil and Baghdad, where U.S. personnel are located.
“We can act, carefully and responsibly, to prevent a potential act of genocide. That’s what we’re doing on that mountain. I’ve therefore, authorized targeted air strikes, if necessary, to help forces in Mount Sinjar and protect the civilians trapped there,” said President Obama.
On Saturday, President Obama again addressed the nation about the current situation in Iraq. He reiterated the importance of protecting Iraqi minorities and helping the Kurds and Iraqi government to fight off IS.
President Obama also said that the U.S. will continue the airstrikes against IS and that he had spoken with British Prime Minister David Cameron and France President Francois Hollande about using international humanitarian aid in order to help the Iraqis who've been displaced by IS.
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