'US strikes IS artillery', Pentagon spokesman

"Artillery was used against Kurdish forces defending Erbil, near US personnel," Kirby added. The U.S. President Barack Obama authorized targeted air strikes Thursday to protect American personnel in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil and support forces in Iraq as they fight to break the siege of Mount Sinjar, on which thousands of Ezidi civilians have sought refuge from Islamic State militants. U.S. air force carried out an aid airdrop for Ezidis stranded in Mount Sanjar before Obama authorized the airstrike. There were also reports that U.S. had also conducted airstrikes in Iraq on Thursday, but Kirby said that there had been no such action taken on Thursday. Since last Saturday, IS has moved north where battles between the Islamist fighters and Kurdistan Regional Government forces have taken place.