US Authorizes Air Strikes Against ISIL in Iraq, Alone

• President Obama authorized targeted airstrikes against ISIL insurgents in Iraq, as well as humanitarian assistance to civilians stranded on a mountain. British Prime Minister David Cameron is “extremely concerned” by the situation in the country and “utterly condemns” ISIL’s attacks, but also rules out [AFP] a military intervention by the UK.

• Former British defence secretary Liam Fox talks in a BBC interview about Vladimir Putin’s trampling of international law, and how Western powers should respond.