US steps up Iraq airstrikes

A little boy has shed tears after winning a human lottery, and safety from the advancing ISIS militants in Iraq.

There were 20 places on an aid helicopter, and he and 19 other Yazidis were the ones who made it, even if it meant risking their lives to beat dozens of others left begging to be saved.

While Kurdish military threw cases of water and food down to the families left behind, American fighter jets stepped up their attack, dropping bombs on ISIS rebels spotted firing at the innocent refugees stranded on Mount Sinjar.

“The American aircraft are positioned to strike ISIL terrorists around the mountain, and help the Iraqi forces break the siege and rescue those who are trapped there,” President Barack Obama said.

The US airstrikes have the militants vowing revenge.

They have taken to social media to make brutal threats of retaliation against American soldiers and civilians.

“We have to make sure that ISIL is not engaging in the actions that could cripple a country permanently,” Mr Obama said.

The US is getting support from allies including Australia, which has two Hercules jets on standby in the Middle East.

But all parties are adamant this mission is not the start of another full-scale engagement.