An Air Force C-130 on Monday delivered thousands of meals to an Iraqi tribe displaced by fighting between security forces and Islamic State group fighters.
The C-130 dropped more than 7,000 Halal meals to the Abu Nimer tribe, which had been forces to relocate from their homes near Hit, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said Tuesday. The meals were dropped in the vicinity of Al Asad Air Base, where they were picked up and delivered by Iraqi Security Forces.
The C-130 is deployed to U.S. Central Command and exited the airdrop zone safely.
"This assistance is just another example of our resolve to assist the people of Iraq and deny [the Islamic State group] key terrain and safe haven, as well as our commitment to assist those forces who are opposing [the Islamic State group]," Kirby said.
Air Force C-130s have conducted multiple airdrops to assist those affected by the fight against the Islamic State group, starting with the large-scale assistance to refugees who had been stranded on Mount Sinjar in August.
The humanitarian flights happened as U.S. and coalition partners continued airstrikes against the Islamic State in both Syria and Iraq. On Monday, attack and fighter aircraft conducted four air strikes in Syria, and U.S. and partner nations flew nine airstrikes in Iraq.
To date, the U.S. has spent about $580 million since the beginning of airstrikes on Aug. 8, Kirby said.
