U.S. starts air strikes against Iraqi Sunni extremist targets: media

Baghdad, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. air force has started on Friday airstrikes against Iraqi Sunni extremist targets in northern Iraq, according to media and Pentagon sources.

The air strikes came after artillery fire near U.S. personnel, the Pentagon said Friday.

U.S. President Barack Obama authorized these air raids in a bid to protect Christians, and prevent "genocide" of tens of thousands of members of an ancient sect sheltering on a desert mountaintop from the so-called Islamic State militants threatening to exterminate them.