U.S. airstrikes support aid drop to Iraqi town

WASHINGTON — An international airdrop of food and water supported by U.S. airstrikes sought to bring relief to the beleaguered Iraqi town of Amirli, which has been under siege by Islamic State militants for nearly two months, the Pentagon said Saturday night.

Aircraft from Australia, France and Britain joined the U.S. in delivering the aid to thousands of Shiite Turkmen in the farming community about 105 miles north of Baghdad, Rear Adm. John Kirby said in a statement. The aid came at the request of the Iraqi government, he said.

The U.S. military conducted the airstrikes against Islamic State militants to support the aid delivery, Kirby said. Operations will be limited in scope and duration as needed to address the humanitarian crisis and protect the civilians trapped in the town, he said.

Instead of fleeing in the face of the Islamic State drive across northern Iraq, residents stayed and fortified their town of 15,000 with trenches and armed positions. Amirli has been surrounded by the militants since mid-July.