KABUL, Afghanistan - The campaign by Islamist militants in Iraq shows “all the warning signs of genocide,” Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday as the U.S. announced it had carried out airstrikes against militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). The humanitarian crisis in the country was “rising,” Kerry told reporters in Afghanistan where he was on an official visit, adding that there were “cold blooded executions ongoing” in Iraq.
“We call on the world to stand by us to confront ISIS,” Kerry said. “The safety of our troops is the most important. We will ensure the security of our personnel.” He was speaking moments before the Pentagon said two Navy F-18 fighter jets had dropped laser-guided bombs on ISIS artillery in order to protect Kurdish forces defending the northern city of Erbil.
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