President Obama announced that he has authorized two operations in response to the crisis in Northern Iraq: "targeted airstrikes to protect our American personnel, and a humanitarian effort to help save thousands of Iraqi civilians who are trapped on a mountain without food and water and facing almost certain death."

In response to cries for help from the persecuted population in Iraq and mounting political pressure, the president made the announcement Thursday night. As he has consistently argued against interventionism, Obama felt it necessary to make his case for the military operation (transcript via Weekly Standard):

[T]he United States cannot and should not intervene every time there’s a crisis in the world. So let me be clear about why we must act, and act now. When we face a situation like we do on that mountain -- with innocent people facing the prospect of violence on a horrific scale, when we have a mandate to help -- in this case, a request from the Iraqi government -- and when we have the unique capabilities to help avert a massacre, then I believe the United States of America cannot turn a blind eye. We can act, carefully and responsibly, to prevent a potential act of genocide. That’s what we’re doing on that mountain.

I’ve, therefore, authorized targeted airstrikes, if necessary, to help forces in Iraq as they fight to break the siege of Mount Sinjar and protect the civilians trapped there. Already, American aircraft have begun conducting humanitarian airdrops of food and water to help these desperate men, women and children survive. Earlier this week, one Iraqi in the area cried to the world, 'There is no one coming to help.' Well today, America is coming to help. We’re also consulting with other countries -- and the United Nations -- who have called for action to address this humanitarian crisis.

During his remarks, Obama also that due to the situation "the lives of American citizens are at risk."

The president's announcement of the airstrikes comes a few hours after his press secretary, Josh Earnest, said "there are no military solutions to the very difficult problems that exist in Iraq now."

Video via NYT.