Iraq crisis: US team assess Mount Sinjar situation

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Iraq crisis: US team assess Mount Sinjar situation

(BBC) A US military team in Iraq has flown to Mount Sinjar in the north, where tens of thousands are trapped, to assess the situation, officials say.

Defence officials said the operation took place earlier on Wednesday, and all personnel had now returned safely to their base in Irbil.

The US has sent hundreds of military advisers to Iraq to help people fleeing militant group Islamic State (IS).

IS fighters have seized large swathes of northern Iraq in recent months.

Tens of thousands of people from religious minorities have been forced to flee their homes.

'Humanitarian crisis'

Wednesday's operation at Sinjar was focused on assessing whether to try to evacuate those trapped on the mountain, US officials said.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28783068

 

[bbc]2014-08-14[/bbc] 
 

[arjunadawn]

Erbil is danger close to where this is all unfolding. The post may suggest there is a large military base in Erbil (spelled multiple ways), there is not a large presence here. However, the presence that is here is what is in most danger. The poorly outfitted contingents of various US government agencies are highly vulnerable here, and literally an hour or so from the front by car, minutes by missiles.