United States Targets Airstrike at Islamic State Artillery

Carrie Dedrick | Updated: Aug 08, 2014

United States Targets Airstrike at Islamic State Artillery

President Obama gave his permission to send airstrikes at Islamic State artillery in a statement late Thursday evening. The airstrikes have now been carried out in an effort to subdue the Muslim extremists. 

Obama’s orders were to launch the missiles only if the militants advanced toward the Kurdish capital of Irbil, where the United States has facilities and officials grounded. 

“We intend to take action if they threaten our facilities anywhere in Iraq including Irbil and Baghdad,” Obama said. 

The military also has permission to perform an airstrike in an effort to free thousands of Iraqi citizens that have been forced to a mountaintop with no means of survival outside of Sinjar. 

“As we can provide air support to relieve that pressure, the president has given the military the authority to do so,” a senior administration official said. 

Over 700 troops have been deployed to Iraq since June, but Obama insists that the current actions the military is taking will not spark a war. 

“I know many of you are concerned about any military action in Iraq, even limited strikes like these. I will not allow the United States to be dragged into fighting another war in Iraq,” Obama said in a statement.

Publication date: August 8, 2014



United States Targets Airstrike at Islamic State Artillery