Obama announces 2 operations in Iraq. Targeted air strikes to protect US personnel and humanitarian aid to stranded minorities.

— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) August 8, 2014

Obama: We can act carefully and responsibly to avert potential act of genocide on that mountain

— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) August 8, 2014

This sounds like Obama is suggesting more than just air strikes.

— Max Fisher (@Max_Fisher) August 8, 2014

Obama: “i will not allow” the US “to be dragged into another war in Iraq.” there will be no ground troops, Obama says

— E McMorris-Santoro (@EvanMcSan) August 8, 2014

Breaking: U.S. military airdrops food and water for Iraqi citizens threatened by ISIL. The aircraft has now safely exited.

— U.S. Dept of Defense (@DeptofDefense) August 8, 2014

US official: “This is going to be a very long-term effort against ISIL."

— Brett LoGiurato (@BrettLoGiurato) August 8, 2014

US back at war in Iraq.

— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) August 8, 2014

Senior admin official: "If we see action anywhere in Iraq that threatens personnel & facilities, we stand prepared to take targeted action."

— Brett LoGiurato (@BrettLoGiurato) August 8, 2014

What about the standards for engagement Obama laid out tonight didn't apply to Syria?

— Josh Greenman (@joshgreenman) August 8, 2014

A request from the Iraqi gov for military assistance is a very important legal fact when it comes to distinguishing Iraq and Syria.

— Michael Hanna (@mwhanna1) August 8, 2014

Dawn breaks over Erbil…still in Kurdish hands & likely reassured Obama willing to use air power to protect it pic.twitter.com/uiYiG5DDxW

— Ivan Watson (@IvanCNN) August 8, 2014

My 2 big takeaways from White House’s Iraq call: (1) USA will go to the mat to defend Iraqi Kurdistan; (2) Rest of Iraq sort of on its own

— Max Fisher (@Max_Fisher) August 8, 2014

Good Obama decision-clearly hard for him, but response to plea for "help" from Yazidis dying on the mountainside is best of what US can be.

— David S.Sedney (@david_sed) August 8, 2014

American presidents have repeatedly betrayed the Kurds. Obama took a limited step tonight to avoid following in their footsteps.

— Jeffrey Goldberg (@JeffreyGoldberg) August 8, 2014

Obama's position here is fairly consistent with the "doctrine," such as it was, sketched out for Libya. Humanitarian, feasible, limited.

— Michael Crowley (@CrowleyTIME) August 8, 2014