Cameron commits to saving the Yazidis

DAVID CAMERON said that “detailed plans are now being put in place” for an international mission to rescue stranded Yazidis in Iraq and that Britain “will play a role in delivering it”.

The Prime Minister spoke after returning from his family holiday to chair a meeting of the Government’s Cobra emergency committee to discuss the crisis.

But he insisted the UK involvement remained a humanitarian mission as he faced calls to arm Kurdish forces or join the US in air strikes against Islamic State (IS) extremist fighters.

He also dismissed demands for Parliament to be recalled, saying it was unnecessary at this stage but would be kept under review.

Mr Cameron said he was “proud” of the role played by the RAF in dropping aid to the minority population trapped by the extremist advance on a sweltering mountain side.

“But we need a plan to get these people off that mountain and get them to a place of safety,” he added. “I can confirm that detailed plans are now being put in place and are under way and that Britain will play a role in delivering them.”

The Prime Minister declined to give any details of the mission – such as whether Chinook helicopters in the region could play a role in any evacuation.

The Yazidis belong to an ancient religion which incorporates elements of ancient Persian, muslim and christian beliefs, but are considered satanists who should be wiped out by the Islamic extremists of the al-Qaida offshoot Islamic State. Its fanatical fighters have already threatened mass murder and ethnic cleansing against other religious groups, including christians, in areas they control.