U.S. Launches Second Round of Airstrikes On Islamic Militants In Iraq
The U.S. launched its second round of airstrikes against Islamic militants late Friday, using drones and fighter jets to drop multiple bombs near the northern city of Irbil in Iraq.
U.S. officials announced that drones and F/A-18 fighter jets were deployed off of the USS George HW Bush in the Persian Gulf and sent to drop multiple bombs on a mortar , as well as a seven-vehicle convoy near Irbil.
Friday afternoon's attack was the second of the day, with F/A-18 fighter jets dropping multiple 500-pound bombs on an artillery convoy earlier in the morning. President Barack Obama announced Thursday that the U.S. would go through with an airstrike, especially because much of the fighting between the Islamic State and Iraq's Kurdish forces is happening dangerously close to where American military trainers are stationed.
According to the Wall Street Journal, a top military official said more airstrikes are expected to take place throughout the country's north over the weekend. "The enemy gets a vote," a senior defense official who remained anonymous told the Wall Street Journal. "If they stop, we stop. If they attack we bring down the hammer."
President Obama said Thursday that the U.S. is choosing to airstrike the Islamic State in order to help the tens of thousands of refugees, many of them Christian, who have been displaced due to the Islamic State's caliphate.
"Earlier this week, one Iraqi in the area cried to the world, `There is no one coming to help.' Well, today, America is coming to help," Obama said. "We're also consulting with other countries -- and the United Nations -- who have called for action to address this humanitarian crisis."
