US STRIKES ISLAMIC STATE ARTILLERY: PENTAGON SPOKESMAN

U.S. Department of Defense spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby (Images: AA) — **U.S. Department of Defense spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby** (Images: AA)

Washington DC, 13 Shawwal 1435/9 August 2014 (MINA) – U.S. military aircraft Friday conducted a strike on Islamic State (IS) militant’s artillery, U.S. Department of Defense spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said on his Twitter account.

“Artillery was used against Kurdish forces defending Erbil, near US personnel,” Kirby added, Anadolu Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The U.S. President Barack Obama authorized targeted air strikes Thursday to protect American personnel in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil and support forces in Iraq as they fight to break the siege of Mount Sinjar, on which thousands of Ezidi civilians have sought refuge from Islamic State militants.

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U.S. air force carried out an aid airdrop for Ezidis stranded in Mount Sanjar before Obama authorized the airstrike.

There were also reports that U.S. had also conducted airstrikes in Iraq on Thursday, but Kirby said that there had been no such action taken on Thursday.

Since last Saturday, IS has moved north where battles between the Islamist fighters and Kurdistan Regional Government forces have taken place. (T/P09/E01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)