Welcome back to our live-blogging of the all the key events unfolding in Iraq.
Iraq Aid Helicopter Crashed
Since we wrapped up the blog yesterday, an Iraqi pilot was killed and a lawmaker injured last evening when a military helicopter delivering humanitarian aid to refugees in northern Iraq crashed, Iraqi television reported.
Iraqiya TV quoted army spokesman Qassem Atta as saying the MI17 Russian-made helicopter crashed due to a technical fault on Sinjar mountain, where thousands of ethnic Yazidis are trapped after fleeing IS militants.
The New York Times reported on its website that reporter Alissa J. Rubin, riding along on the helicopter for a story, suffered an apparent concussion and broken wrists in the crash. Photographer Adam Ferguson was also on board but uninjured.
More U.S. Military Advisers
U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said today that 130 more American military advisers have been sent to Kurdistan autonomous region.
The marines and special operations forces are expected to examine the humanitarian situation and will not be engaged in combat.
Hagel said “it is not a combat boots on the ground kind of operation," rather the "assessment team members" that had arrived in the northern city of Irbil would "give more in-depth assessment of where we can continue to help.”
The U.S. already has about 250 military advisers in Iraq.
UN warns of "genocide"
The UN has warned that up to 30,000 people are still facing a "potential genocide" on Mount Sanjir , where thousands of members of minority groups, including Yazidis and Christians are stranded and face a major threat from IS militants.
UN refugee agency spokesman Adrian Edwards told reporters there were 20,000-30,000 people on Mount Sinjar, and UN minority rights expert Rita Izsak warned they face "a mass atrocity and potential genocide within days or hours."
Aid Drops
Overnight the U.S. military conducted a sixth airdrop of a total of 108 bundles of food and water for thousands of Iraqis on Mount Sinjar, according to the US Central Command in Florida.
To date, in coordination with the government of Iraq, U.S. military aircraft have delivered nearly 100,000 meals and more than 27,000 gallons of fresh drinking water. Britain has also pinched.
MP in 'stable condition'
Yazidi MP Vian Dakhil, who was injured when a helicopter on a relief flight to Mount Sinjar crashed yesterday evening, was in a "stable condition" with minor leg injuries, her office has said on Facebook.