US forces land on Sinjar

A team including personnel from the US military and the US Agency for International Development landed on Iraq's northern Sinjar Mountain early on Wednesday, according to a Pentagon official.

Thousands of people, including members of the Yazidi religious minority, have fled to the mountain to escape an advance by Sunni fighters from the "Islamic State" (IS) militant group.

A second US official confirmed that the mission was accomplished Wednesday by fewer than 20 personnel. They were met by no resistance from IS fighters. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the mission had not yet been announced.

A US military-led rescue mission on the mountain could involve putting American troops on the ground, however US President Barack Obama has insisted that their mission would be strictly humanitarian. Last week, the US carried out two airstrike missions against IS fighters. Washington has also confirmed it has shipped arms and ammunition to Iraqi Kurdish forces.

A team of 130 US military personnel is in the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, Irbil, urgently drawing up options ranging from creating a safe corridor to an airlift to rescue those under siege.

More aid for Iraq

With "Islamic State" fighters advancing on northern Iraq, European leaders are due to meet in Brussels on Friday to coordinate support for Iraqi Kurds located there.

Paris and London have already agreed to coordinate their actions on both humanitarian aid and arms, the office of President Francois Hollande said in a statement on Wednesday.

Earlier, Paris confirmed that it had begun shipping arms to northern Iraq. "In order to respond to the urgent need expressed by the Kurdistan regional authorities, the president has decided, in agreement with Baghdad, to deliver arms," the statement said.

For Germany's part, Chancellor Angela Merkel has defended the statements of her European counterparts, without, however, pledging any lethal aid.

On Tuesday, Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen announced that Germany would support Iraq's army by delivering non-lethal military aid such as armored vehicles, helmets, night-vision equipment, booby-trap detectors and medical supplies.

hc/lw (Reuters, AFP, AP)