British join Iraq relief effort

Britain has begun airdropping food and water to thousands of civilians stranded on a mountain in northern Iraq after fleeing jihadist militants, the British development ministry has said.

Two British transport planes were deployed to the Sinjar region, where extremist Islamic State militants are on the offensive, a ministry spokesman told AFP.

There are about 40,000 Yazidi refugees stranded on Mount Sinjar, where the US has already dropped emergency relief supplies.

American fighter jets have also targeted militant positions and convoys with missile strikes.

French authorities have also committed to supporting the humanitarian relief operation, while Australia is in discussions to do the same.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said yesterday that if Australia decided to help the besieged Yazidis, they would do so in a matter of days, not weeks.

Australia has two Hercules jets stationed in the UAE, which would be directed to carry out aid drops.