Obama suggests airstrikes in Iraq could last months

President Barack Obama has suggested that the airstrikes and humanitarian aid drops he recently authorized in Iraq may go on for months.

In a press conference, Obama said, "I don't think we're going to solve this problem in weeks. This is going to be a long-term project."

The New York Times reports over the weekend, U.S. aircraft launched multiple strikes on fighters of the Islamic State who are threatening the Kurdish capital of Erbil.

The IS fighters have also encircled a minority group called the Yazidis. Thousands are trapped on a mountaintop without food, water, or shelter. Thousand are said to be making a dangerous, 13 mile trek to the Syrian border where Syrian Kurdish fighters will pick them up and take them to Kurdish communities or refugee camps.

The Time says that anywhere from 5,000 to 12,000 Yazidis undertook the perilous journey on Saturday alone. They fled on foot or in cars.

The airstrikes destroyed armored personnel carriers transporting IS fighters. The strikes also took out units of mobile artillery that were being towed into position to barrage Erbil.

Reports from Mosul, which is under IS control, say that at least two dozen IS fighters were killed in those attacks. Another 30 or so were wounded.

In terms of aid, thus far the United States has dropped 52,000 meals ready to eat and 10,600 gallons of water.

While the goals of the airstrikes are open ended, and focused primarily on stopping the advance of IS, one of the more concrete objectives is the establishment of a safe corridor to get the Yazidis off the mountain.

The United States is the only international power to have taken military action in Iraq. The United Kingdom has said that it will provide intelligence to U.S. forces and humanitarian aid for people in Iraq. France has also pledged to send humanitarian aid.