U.S. Carries Out Airstrikes on Sunni Militants in Iraq

The U.S. has conducted airstrikes on Sunni militants in Iraq. Pentagon Spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said in a statement that, "Two F/A-18 aircraft dropped 500-pound laser-guided bombs on a mobile artillery piece near Erbil. ISIL was using this artillery to shell Kurdish forces defending Erbil where U.S. personnel are located."

News of the 6:45 a.m. eastern operation comes just hours after President Obama addressed the nation on his decision to authorize targeted strikes and a humanitarian mission in northern Iraq to help protect religious minorities and U.S. personnel already in the region from attack by the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL/ISIS).

While supporting the airstrikes, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) also criticized the president's overall policy, saying, "The president’s authorization of airstrikes is appropriate, but like many Americans, I am dismayed by the ongoing absence of a strategy for countering the grave threat ISIS poses to the region."

The president said in June that he would send 300 U.S. military advisers to the war-torn nation. At the time he also said he was willing to take targeted actions against ISIL if the situation warranted it.

Last month, House Republicans pushed for passage of a resolution barring President Obama from sending forces to Iraq in a "sustained combat role" without lawmaker approval. It was approved 370-40 following debate on the House floor held July 25.

Today's airstrikes make President Obama the fourth president in a row to carry out such actions in Iraq.