Obama congratulates Iraqi prime minister-designate; urges him to form government

World Today

Iraqi and Kurdish fighters have been able to airlift some minority Yazidis from the mountains where they have been trapped for days, surrounded by militants from the Islamic State.

Iraqi helicopters delivered supplies Monday, then took some of the stranded children and elderly on board and flew them out.

In Northern Iraq, The U.S. military launched airstrikes against militant targets for a fourth day in a row. Iraq’s new president nominated a new prime minister, snubbing incumbent Nouri al-Maliki.

U.S. President Barack Obama spoke about the situation in Iraq. CCTV’S Jim Spellman reports.

Obama statement on Iraqi politics

Iraqi and Kurdish fighters have been able to airlift some minority Yazidis from the mountains where they have been trapped for days, surrounded by militants from the Islamic State.