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White House Pledges to Protect Iraqi Yezidis from Genocide

© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Fedorenko / Go to the mediabankWhite House
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US Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes met with the members of the Yezidi minority group at the White House and assured them that the United States is ready to protect them from genocide in Iraq.

WASHINGTON, August 9 (RIA Novosti) – US Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes met with the members of the Yezidi minority group at the White House and assured them that the United States is ready to protect them from genocide in Iraq.

The statement issued by White House noted that the United States “will act, carefully and responsibly, to prevent a potential act of genocide."

During the meeting, Rhodes expressed admiration for the Yezidi historical heritage and underlined that “in the face of this heartbreaking tragedy, the United States of America stands with the Yezidi people; will continue to provide humanitarian support to those Yezidis who are suffering; and will work with Yezidis, the Iraqi government, and international partners to pursue a lasting solution that protects the Yezidi people”.

Earlier Thursday, US President Barack Obama said that the Kurdish minority community of Yezidis and Christians in northern Iraq are facing genocide at the hands of the Islamic State (IS), formerly the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS).

According to the US leader, in order to protect the Yezidis and American embassy in Erbil, he directed targeted strikes against IS military sites. At least three of such airstrikes were carried out on Friday.

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