U.S. President Barack Obama authorized on Thursday airstrikes in war-torn Iraq, which he said would be launched anytime if the situation worsens and endangers the lives of minorities and Americans living there.

The military move, should it proceed, would mark the first direct intervention of the United States in Iraq after it withdrew its troops in 2011 at the end of its eight-year war against the Iraqi terrorists.

Like Us on Facebook

Obama said he authorized the airstrikes against Islamic militants in Iraq that have controlled several areas in the north, and is now advancing to Kurdish capital of Arbil, where U.S. consulate is located. He explained that he made the decision at the request of Iraqi government to help them avert the hostilities and to save a religious minority group forced to flee the town of Sinjar after the militants' deadly attacks.

Ancient Yazidi community and Catholics were forced to leave the area and hide in the nearby mountains to secure their lives from the Sunni militants, who killed minorities refusing to pay fines and convert into Muslim.

Obama said the defense department airdropped food and water supplies in the mountains and would continue with the humanitarian operations until needed. Tens of thousands of minorities fled their communities when the militants attacked the region.

In a televised speech delivered from the White House late Thursday, Obama said they must act with care and in a way that would prevent a possible genocide. However, he assured American citizens that they will not be engaged in another war in Iraq, a pledge he made as part of his administration's agenda.

"As commander in chief, I will not allow the United States to be dragged into fighting another war in Iraq," Obama stressed.

He said they would launch the  authorized airstrikes in northern Iraq once the Sunni militants approach the city of Irbil, where American personnel man the U.S. consulate.

TagsAirstrikes, Iraq, militants