ISIS on the offensive in Iraq

[Viking]

And so the intervention is about to begin, it seems:

US President Barack Obama says he has authorised air strikes against Islamic militants in northern Iraq but will not send US troops back to the country.

He said Islamic State (IS) fighters would be targeted to prevent the slaughter of religious minorities, or if they threaten US interests.

Strikes have not yet begun, but the US has made humanitarian air drops to Iraqis under threat from the militants.

But this is unlikely to have a decisive effect on the larger war, if I get it correctly.