United States Navy figher jets have now launched two rounds of airstrikes against Islamic State targets threatening the city of Irbil in northern Iraq and thousands of refugees stranded on a mountaintop in the area.

The airstikes were launched hours after cargo aircraft dropped some 8,000 packaged meals and 5,300 gallons of water for Iraqi refugees stranded on Mount Sinjar after their homes. 

Like Us on Facebook

Some 40,000 Yazidis have been stranded on the mountaintop since a week ago, but other refugees including Christians from the city of Qaraqosh could have swelled the number to more than 100,000.

After the airdrops, U.S. Navy F-18 fighters dropped two 500-pound bombs on an artillery battery operated by Islamic State militants and threatening Irbil, seat of the Kurdistan regional government, where US government personnel are stationed.

The fighter jets took off from the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush, stationary in the Persian Gulf. The Pentagon reports that after the first strike, four F/A-18's attacked a convoy of seven ISIS vehicles at approximately 11:20 a.m. EDT, and "successfully eliminated" the objective.

The report also mentioned a strike by a "remotely-piloted" aircraft - official designation for a drone - demolishing a "terrorist" mortar position. 

In a speech Thursday night, U.S. President Barack Obama said he was ordering the airstrikes to protect American interests in Iraq.

Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said Friday, "As the president made clear, the United States military will continue to take direct action against ISIL when they threaten our personnel and facilities." 

The airstrikes mark the first time U.S. forces are engaged in combat in Iraq three years after Obama ordered their withdrawal from the country.