World leaders are intensifying plans to stop the advance of jihadist fighters in northern Iraq, and help tens of thousands of civilians displaced by the fighting.
French president Francois Hollande announced his government would shortly supply arms to Kurds in Iraq who are fighting the Islamic State group.
British prime minister David Cameron said plans were being developed for an international mission to rescue about 30,000 of civilians are trapped on Mount Sinjar after fleeing the militants' advance.
I've been speaking to @BarackObama. I told him I welcome US efforts in Iraq and that the UK will join in delivering aid through air drops.
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) August 9, 2014
Many of those stranded belong to the Yazidi sect. They are among tens of thousands of people - mostly members of religious minorities - who are sheltering on the mountain in northern Iraq, and are in need of desperate humanitarian assistance, according to the United Nations.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said teams on the ground were making "a very rapid and critical assessment because we understand it's urgent to try to move those people off the mountain".
Australia's Tony Abbott said Australian aircraft will be involved in dropping humanitarian supplies to the Yazidi refugees.
