- .WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
- .Senior U.S. officials say arms being sent directly to peshmerga forces in sign of growing concern about ISIS gains
- .Obama administration has previously insisted on only selling weapons to the Iraqi government in Baghdad
- .Comes as Kurdish forces seized back two towns from the Islamic insurgents aided in part by U.S. air strikes
- .Extremist group possesses state-of-the-art weaponry that outguns much of the ageing firepower of the Kurds
Thousands of Iraqis from the minority Yazidi community are fleeing across the border into Syria to escape Islamic militants who have trapped other members of their sect up a remote mountain.
Men, women and children have been forced from their homes in the town of Sinjar with what few belongings they could carry after it was overrun by the Islamic State.
It comes as the Obama administration has begun directly providing weapons to Kurdish forces who have started to make gains against Islamic militants in northern Iraq.
Kurdish peshmerga fighters appear to be the best of saving tens of thousands of Yazidis trapped up a barren mountain near Sinjar.
Torturous trek: Men, women and children from the Yazidi sect walk towards the Syrian border on the outskirts of Sinjar mountain to escape the Islamic State
Fleeing genocide: Islamic State militants have killed at least 500 members of the Yazidi sect during their offensive in the north, according to Iraq's human rights minister
Refugees: Iraqis from the Yazidi community cross the border in Syria along the Feeshkhabour bridge over Tigris River as thousands flee Islamic militants
Desperate: Yazidis ride in the trunk of a car as they make their way towards the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Sinjar mountain, near the Syrian town of Elierbeh
There, they face a bleak choice of descending at the risk of being slaughtered or hoping their attackers were defeated before they died of thirst or hunger.
Previously, the U.S. had insisted on only selling arms to the Iraqi government in Baghdad, but the Kurdish peshmerga fighters had been losing ground to Islamic State (IS) fighters in recent weeks.
U.S. air strikes have been key to redressing the balance over weekend, allowing Kurdish forces to retake two towns yesterday in one of their first victories since the uprising began in June.
But the refugee crisis continues to escalate with thousands of Yazidis pouring across the border from Iraq into Syria to escape the bloodthirsty jihadists.
Kurdish authorities at the border believe some 45,000 Yazidis passed the river crossing in the past week, while thousands more are still stranded in the mountains
On the run: The Yazidis fleeing to Syria said Islamic State militants had given them the choice of converting to Islam or dying
Much-needed rest: Displaced Iraqis from the Yazidi community cool themselves in the Tigris River at the Feeshkhabour border point
Retaliation: Kurdish peshmerga fighters stand over bodies of militants from ISIS in Abo Shita village after launching a counter-offensive with the help of U.S. air strikes
U.S. air strikes have been key to the counter-offensive, allowing Kurdish forces to retake two towns in one of their first victories since the uprising began in June
The U.S. officials wouldn't say which U.S. agency is providing the arms or what weapons are being sent, but one official said it isn't the Pentagon.
The CIA has historically done similar quiet arming operations.
The move to directly aid the Kurds underscores the level of U.S. concern about the Islamic State's gains in the north.
It also reflects the persistent administration view that the Iraqis must take the necessary steps to solve their own security problems.
In recent days, the U.S. military has been helping to facilitate weapons deliveries from the Iraqis to the Kurds, providing logistic assistance and transportation to the north.
More help coming their way: Kurdish Peshmerga fighters flash victory signs after making gains against Islamic State militants in the village of Abo Shita in Qwer, Iraq
Bolstering their firepower: The Obama administration is now sending weapons directly to Peshmerga forces, seen here in Makhmur after making gains against Islamic State militants
To bolster that effort, the administration is also very close to approving plans for the Pentagon to arm the Kurds in the offensive against IS, a senior official said.
As well as the fanatical loyalty of its fighters, the ultra-extremist group possesses state-of-the-art weaponry that outguns much of the ageing firepower of the peshmergas.
Most of its armoury was seized during a lightning advance several weeks ago when fleeing Iraqi troops abandoned the artillery and armoured vehicles that they had been given by U.S. forces.
On the offensive: Volunteers from Kurdish peshmerga fighters take up arms in the fight against the ISIS militants in the Iraqi city of Mosul
Volunteers from Kurdish Peshmerga fighters take up their positions in an offensive against IS militants in Mosul. The move to arm the Kurds underscores the level of U.S. concern about the extremist group's gains
KURDS HAMPERED BY OLD WEAPONS AND LOW MORALE
With around 40,000 fighters, Kurdish peshmergas are among the best-trained sections of Iraq's security forces.
But a combination of ageing weaponry, dwindling ammunition and low morale has seen them swept away by a ruthless, well-equipped band of bloodthirsty jihadists.
Until recent U.S. air strikes came to their aid, the Kurds have been making do with outdated Russian machine guns, tanks, AK-47 rifles and Soviet-era rocket launchers.
A shortage of ammunition has also forced them to retreat to ensure their supply lines continue to function.
This has been compounded by a dispute with the Iraqi government over pay, which has not been forthcoming for peshmerga soldiers for the past two months, leading to low morale, it was reported by The Times.
By comparison, Islamic State (IS) fighters have been motivated by a fanatical loyalty to their cause to create a caliphate across the border of Syria and Iraq.
Despite their inferior numbers - they have around 15,000 fighters - their state-of-the-art weaponry that outguns much of the ageing firepower of the peshmergas.
Most of its armoury was seized during a lightning advance several weeks ago when fleeing Iraqi troops abandoned the artillery as well as dozens of Soviet tanks and armoured vehicles that they had been given by U.S. forces.
IS also controls valuable oil fields and, with the help of wealthy Sunni backers from the Gulf states, is estimated to have amassed a staggering £1.2billion.
This has proven more than a match for the formidable peshmerga – which defends the Kurdish semi-autonomous region in the north – and its 12.7mm Soviet-era machine guns and outdated Russian T-55 tanks.
IS also controls valuable oil fields and, with the help of wealthy Sunni backers from the Gulf states, is estimated to have amassed a staggering £1.2billion.
The Islamic State, which sees Iraq's majority Shi'ites as infidels who deserve to be killed, has ruthlessly moved through one town after another, using tanks and heavy weapons it seized from soldiers who have fled in their thousands.
On Monday, police said the fighters had seized the town of Jalawla, 115 km (70 miles) northeast of Baghdad, after driving out the forces of the autonomous Kurdish regional government.
On Sunday, a government minister said Islamic State militants had killed hundreds of minority Yazidis, burying some alive and taking women as slaves.
Human rights minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani accused the Sunni Muslim militants - who have ordered the community they regard as 'devil worshippers' to convert to Islam or die - of celebrating what he called a 'a vicious atrocity'.
No independent confirmation was available of the killings.
Thousands of Yazidis have taken refuge in the past week on the arid heights of Mount Sinjar, close to the Syrian border, while others have fled across the border into Syria.
The additional assistance comes as Kurdish forces on Sunday took back two towns from the Islamic insurgents, aided in part by U.S. air strikes in the region.
President Barack Obama authorised the airstrikes to protect U.S. interests and personnel in the region, including at facilities in Irbil, as well as Yazidi refugees fleeing militants.
U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, speaking to reporters here, said the airstrikes 'have been very effective from all the reports that we've received on the ground.'
He declined to detail how or when the U.S. might expand its assistance to Iraq, or if military assessment teams currently in Baghdad would be moving to a more active role advising the Iraqi forces.
'We're going to continue to support the Iraqi security forces in every way that we can as they request assistance there,' Hagel said during a press conference with Australian Defense Minister David Johnston.
At the same time, the administration is watching carefully as a political crisis brews in Baghdad.
All hands on deck: Ex-combatants of the Kurdish Peshmerga fighters who have volunteered again to fight against the militants from the Islamic State, take up position near Khazer town near Mosul city in northern Iraq
Taking aim: Volunteers from Kurdish Peshmerga fighters take up their position as they fight with Kurdish forces against the militants from the Islamic State
The U.S. military has been helping to facilitate weapons deliveries from the Iraqis to the Kurds, who had been losing ground to the Islamic State in recent weeks, but now they are being armed directly
Iraqi President Fuad Masum tasked first deputy speaker of parliament Haidar al-Abadi with forming a government during a brief ceremony broadcast live on television.
'The country is now in your hands,' Masum told Abadi, who moments earlier was selected as nominee for prime minister instead of incumbent Nouri al-Maliki.
Iraq's largest coalition of Shi'ite political parties chose the deputy prime minister to be its candidate to lead the government in a major defeat for al-Maliki just hours after he declared himself the rightful candidate and put troops on the street.
The Iraqi National nominated Haider al-Ibadi to replace al-Maliki and to form a new government to unify the country against the growing threat of radical militants, alliance head Ibrahim al-Jaafari said in a statement.
Al-Maliki's Shi'ite-dominated bloc won the most parliament seats in April elections and the prime minister sees himself as rightfully keeping the post.
He accused Masum of neglecting to name a prime minister by Sunday's deadline.
He accused Masum of neglecting to name a prime minister by Sunday's deadline.
US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop arrive in Sydney. Mr Kerry urged the people of Iraq to remain calm amid the political and military upheaval
Critics say the Shi'ite al-Maliki contributed to the crisis by monopolising power and pursuing a sectarian agenda that alienated the country's Sunni and Kurdish minorities.
Al-Abadi's nomination came hours after al-Maliki deployed his elite security forces in the streets of Baghdad, partially closed two main streets - popular spots for pro and anti-government rallies - as hundreds of his supporters took to the streets.
'We are with you, al-Maliki,' they shouted, waving posters of the incumbent premier, singing and dancing.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry earlier urged the people of Iraq to remain calm amid the political and military upheaval.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry earlier urged the people of Iraq to remain calm amid the political and military upheaval.
Speaking in Australia today, Kerry said there should be no use of force by political factions as Iraq struggles to form a government.
'We believe that the government formation process is critical in terms of sustaining the stability and calm in Iraq,' Kerry said.
'And our hope is that Mr Maliki will not stir those waters.'
Murderous march of ISIS: A graphic detailing the insurgency by 15,000 Islamic State fighters across Iraq
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