President Obama says he’s ordered targeted airstrikes in Iraq

President Obama announced Thursday night he has ordered targeted airstrikes in Iraq, but said the United States would not be drawn into war.

U.S. cargo planes escorted by fighter jets dropped supplies to tens of thousands of Iraqis who fled advancing Sunni militant fighters and are stranded on a barren mountain in danger of starvation, U.S. officials said Thursday.

In a statement, Pentagon officials said the planes had dropped "critical meals and water for thousands of Iraq citizens threatened" by the fighters in a mountainous area near the Iraqi town of Sinjar.

Obama has also been considering possible airstrikes against the Islamic State fighters. No air strikes have taken place to date, Pentagon officials said, denying some media reports.