David Cameron: UK “will play role” in Yazidi rescue mission

David Cameron has confirmed that Britain will "play a role" in an international mission to rescue stranded Yazidis in Iraq, after chairing a Cobra emergency meeting this afternoon.

 

The Prime Minister, who had cut short a holiday in Portugal to chair the meeting, said that "detailed plans" were in place to help the estimated 35,000 civilians fleeing Islamic State (IS) militants.

 

The news comes after the US also increased military efforts in the region, sending 130 troops into Iraq on Tuesday in a mission to assess the scope of the crisis.

 

Earlier France announced that it would be arming Kurds in Northern Iraq. French President Francois Hollande said: "the catastrophic situation faced by the population of Iraqi Kurdistan means the international community must step up its mobilisation.”

 

Mr Cameron had come under fire from his own backbenchers for perceived inaction on the Iraq crisis, after he had been photographed on holiday as the situation unfolded.

 

The UK has been bringing humanitarian aid and supplies to the stranded Yazidis trapped on Mount Sinjar since Saturday, while the US has also issued airstrikes against the IS militants last week.

 

As of yesterday three UK air drops had taken place delivering 3,180 reusable water containers, a total of 15,900 litres of clean water and 816 solar lanterns. Chinook helicopters have also been sent to the region which could be used to airlift humans to safety, the BBC has reported. 

 

The Royal United Services Institute has said that Britain can provide “virtually nothing” that is not currently available from US services.