Britain, France and Germany voiced their support on Friday following the United States' announcement that it would carry out an air strike against the Islamic State (IS) in the northern city of Irbil, Iraq.

U.S. fighters launched two separate strikes in known IS bases to prevent the militants from advancing toward the South Kurdistan's capital of Irbil, the Pentagon confirmed on Friday.

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Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said the first strike hit an IS weapons station while the second strike - carried out hours later - had hit mortar positions and a seven-car convoy.

Western nations had vowed to take action in Iraq after reports that thousands of Kurdish Yezidis had been trapped in Mount Sinjar for a week following an IS offensive, with dozens being killed each day.

Local authorities said 10,000 civilians were rescued on Friday.

French President Francois Hollande said France is working to identify possible actions it could take to provide joint support to the U.S. and its partners to end the civilians' suffering in Iraq, adding that the country is prepared to fully take on its role in this endeavor.

He said the international community could not afford to do nothing in the face of dangers posed on people by the militants' advances, noting that the terrorism would also destabilize not just Iraq but the entire region.

Hollande urged the European Union to take part in efforts to provide assistance in the region to address the humanitarian crisis.

British Prime Minister David Cameron also backed U.S. intervention in the region.

He said he welcomed President Obama's decision to assist the Iraqi government to help its forces fight against the terrorists and to free civilians trapped in Mount Sinjar.

Agreeing with Obama, Cameron stressed he believed one should fight for the right to dignity and freedom regardless of one's religion.

While Britain supports the U.S. strikes in Iraq, Britain will not take part in military actions in the region, Michael Fallon, UK's defense secretary said.

Instead, the government will focus efforts to assist Iraq through humanitarian means, citing technical assistance such as in surveillance and refueling, he added.

Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told Reuters he supported the air strikes.

Given the urgency of the situation, this was the only way to stop the IS offensive - for the time being, he added.

He stressed that the main focus right now would be to prevent genocide and rescue the civilians trapped in the mountains.

President Obama said on Thursday that the U.S. is responding to the Iraqi government's request for help but stressed that he "will not allow" the country to be pulled into another war in the region.

TagsMount Sinjar, US airstrikes in Iraq