The United States has conducted its second air drop of food and water to thousands of Iraqis hiding in mountains from Islamist militants.

It came hours after U.S. forces have launched a second wave of air strikes against Islamic State (IS) in northern Iraq.

The Pentagon said the latest air drop on August 9 dispersed a total of 72 bundles of supplies, delivered by

The Pentagon earlier said fresh air strikes included a drone strike on a mortar position and an attack by four jets on an IS convoy and mortar position near the city of Arbil — a similar location to a first strike earlier on August 8.

President Barack Obama has authorized air strikes on Iraq to protect U.S. military and diplomatic personnel in Irbil and prevent “a potential act of genocide” against religious minorities.

The IS militants regard the tiny Yazidi minority and even Shi’a Muslims as heretical and have executed them in large numbers. Hundreds of Yazidi women have been taken captive.

Thousands of Yazidis were encircled in northern Iraq, prompting the United States to carry out the humanitarian air drops to the refugees fleeing their homes to Mount Sinjar.