American warplanes struck Islamic State militants in northern Iraq who have besieged a religious group and threatened the city of Irbil.

According to Pentagon spokesman, Rear Admiral John Kirby, the second wave of strikes used a drone to attack a mortar position while four FA-18 fighter-attack planes hit a seven-vehicle convoy outside Irbil.

Humanitarian-aid drops continue as well to places where thousands of Iraqis have fled persecuted by the militants of Islamic State in northern Iraq.

The Department of State announced that the decision of Barack Obama is strongly opposite to the 2003 invasion of Iraq and is absolutely legal, since the military strikes were decided following the request of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

“The Iraqi government and Iraqi officials have requested this support” said Marie Harf, spokesperson of the State Department.

Meanwhile, the UN is seeking ways to set up a humanitarian mission and remove the thousands of civilians who are threatened by jihadist groups.

During their latest attack, the militants of Islamic state occupied Qaraqosh, Iraq’s largest Christian city, and the Mosul dam, the largest dam in the country, which controls the supply of water and electricity throughout the region.

Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa have suspended their flights to Irbil. The Federal Aviation Administration has banned American commercial flights over Iraq, while British Airways announced similar measures.