Any operation would, of course, require President Barack Obama's approval.
The focus on an air
option -- rather than a ground operation -- is due to initial
indications that ground transport would take too long, and the distance
would expose the Yazidis to too much risk, said the official, who was
not authorized to speak publicly on the matter and asked not to be
named. In addition, many of the people are in too poor a medical
condition to make a lengthy journey, the official explained. That said, a
ground operation is still an option under consideration, U.S. officials
said.
It is now likely a small number of American military personnel will make
the journey to Mount Sinjar to get a direct look at the situation, the
official said. If an air operation is approved, it would mean putting
U.S. ground troops both on the mountain and at a nearby airfield, the
official said.
The operation will be characterized as a short-term humanitarian mission
and not a combat mission. U.S. troops -- as always -- will have the
right to defend themselves against ISIS attacks. U.S. airstrikes
currently are aimed at destroying ISIS position around the mountain. The
U.S. would establish a security corridor around the area to try to
provide airspace for U.S. rescue helicopters and V-22 aircraft to fly to
the mountain to pick people up.
The 130 troops would form the beginning of a joint task force to carry
out an evacuation, the official said. They will work to develop
procedures for rescuing and then processing people being brought off the
mountain, but there are still several unresolved questions -- such as,
where will the Yazidis be taken?
Asked about a potential evacuation operation on CNN's "New Day,"
Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said he didn't "want to get too
far out in front of this thing.
"We shouldn't be jumping to a conclusion right now that there is or won't be a rescue operation in particular."
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