the u.s. conducts targeted air strikes in iraq. >> violence between israel and hamas. our correspondents are live this hour on the ground in jerusalem and gaza with the very latest. and as health experts declare ebola an international health emergency we'll look at the ethics of an experimental serum given to two americans. welcome our viewers in the united states and around the world. i'm george hull. >> good to be with you, george. and i'm amara walker. we begin in iraq, where the

united states has unleashed another round of targeted air strikes. zplt u.s. is hoping to stop the momentum of isis militants. you see this video here, said to show one such attack. u.s. laser-guided bombs are said to have targeted a convoy of isis fighters along with their mortar positions near the northern city of erbil. isis reportedly has fought its way to within 30 kilometers of that city. local leaders say 150 kurdish troops have been killed in the offensive so far. >> we also have video showing one of the u.s. military's humanitarian aid drops in iraq. aid drops have reached at least some of the civilians trapped on a mountain trying to escape isis fighters who have vowed to kill them. now, speaking in afghanistan, u.s. secretary of state john kerry repeated washington's concerns about potential for genocide in iraq. >> isis's campaign of terror against the innocent including

the yazidi and christian minorities and its grotesque targeted acts of violence show all the warning signs of genocide. for anyone who needed a wake-up call, this is it. >> the isis advance in iraq has driven many people from their homes. kurdish officials say he hundreds of thousands of iraqis have fled to erbil. ivan watson gives us a glimpse of their ordeal. >> reporter: hundreds of thousands of iraqis are on the run right now. and hundreds of them have taken shelter here in a place of worship. this is st. joseph's church. it's in the christian town of anqawa, which is in the northern iraqi region of kurdistan. and this is where hundreds of people have been sleeping for the past two nights after quite literally running for their lives with little more than the

clothes on their backs. the scenes that we're seeing he here, it is just a drop in the bucket. across the city, across this kurdish safe haven we have seen similar scenes in youth centers, in other churches, in gas station parking lots. people are running for their lives. and according to the patriarch of the chaldean christian community of iraq, among the exodus are more than 100,000 christians who tell us that they've been given a choice by the militants from the islamic state of iraq and syria, either convert to their brand of violent harsh islam or face the sword. >> you're going to stay here? >> yes. >> for how long? >> i don't know.

how much -- a day? i don't know. i stay here. >> this is a bad situation. this is very bad. >> very bad. food. everything. water. everything. yes. >> and no future. >> the future, u.s. aid can help our people to go to u.s. >> you cannot stay in iraq? >> no, no. no. >> it's too dangerous? >> no, no life in iraq. >> reporter: christian leaders in iraq are warninging of the threat of genocide against this ancient christian community. and it's not just the christians who are under threat. basically, any religious or ethnic minority. that includes yazidis. that includes shiite muslims. that includes the turk amens,

the bashar. they are all on the run right now, terrified of this strict and very violent interpretation of islam implemented by the islamic state of iraq and syria. or isis. and this is the situation right now. women like ihlas, her family, have slept for the second night in this church with their 40-day-old baby right here. and sadly, this is probably just the very beginning of this humanitarian crisis. ivan watson, cnn, anqawa in iraqi kurdistan. >> there are fears of genocide. and as ivan just reported, religious minorities in iraq are being persecuted because they are not fundamentalist muslims. paula hancocks takes a closer look. >> reporter: labeled devil worshippers by their enemies, the yazidis have been targeted for centuries.

2007 hundreds were killed in massive truck bombs in northwest iraq. al qaeda was blamed. today tens of thousands fear starvation as they hide in the mountains near their base of mosul, this time running from isis. the yazidis are ethnic kurds. they are considered a sect that draws from christianity, islam, and an ancient persian faith. >> we are not a muslim religion. we are yazidi. we believe in one god as everybody believe and in seven angels and the head of the angels we call dasumelek. >> translated as the peacock angel. yazidis believe they were derived from adam but not eve. this is their most sacred site in lalish, north of mosul. they're expected to make at least one pilgrimage here during their lifetime. iraq has an overwhelming muslim majority. 99% at least count. .8% are christian. only a tiny fraction are yazidi,

with at least 500,000, they're considered one of the smallest minorities in the country. >> they are very peaceful and they are very friendly. and also, as you saw, they like the coalition forces. >> reporter: several hundred yaz udis live in lincoln, nebraska. this amateur footage shows them protesting this week outside government offices, calling for action in iraq. >> the people need help! >> reporter: the same call outside the white house. >> yazidi are being raped. they're being kidnapped. they're being imprisoned. >> reporter: a yazidi member of the iraqi parliament pleads for help. warning of genocide. of people scattered and on the run. they are fast running out of places to hide. paula hancocks, cnn, atlanta.

and elsewhere in the middle east, gaza is a war zone once again. as a new round of israeli air strikes killed at least five people friday, according to palestinian officials. now, israel confirms they targeted at least 70 locations. >> the military there also says at least 67 were fired into israel since the three-day cease-fire expired on friday morning. an israeli soldier and a civilian were wounded, according to authorities. a member of the palestinian delegation participating in negotiations in egypt indicated that the two sides remain very far apart on a lasting solution. let's get the very latest now from our correspondents in the region. sara sidner is live in jerusalem. john vause standing by in gaza. we start with sara to get the very latest from the israeli perspective. sara. >> reporter: we know that overnight the israel defense forces said that they hit between 20 and 30 targets inside of gaza.

responding to rockets that have been coming over since the cease-fire. actually two land before the cease-fire. hamas denying those. but then after that there was clearly a barrage of rockets, a total of 67 since the cease-fire ended. four since midnight here. certainly the fighting resuming. israel saying that they're not going to negotiate while israel is under fire. and they've been very clear on that. they left the talks in cairo friday morning. the israelis saying that as firing is going on we cannot have cease-fire talks and there needs to be peace for peace in order tore those talks to go forward. now, from the palestinian side we're hearing from the palestinian factions. basically, one saying that the talks were far apart because of what they call the blockade there in gaza, saying that the big sticking point is that in gaza they want the sea port opened and the airport opened. particularly the sea port because fishing is a very big

part of the economy there in gaza. the fishermen can only go out about three nautical miles from the shore. and they believe that their territory goes all the way to 20 nautical miles out. the israelis said, well, we'll give you six according to egyptian officials, we'll give you double what we already have given you. and the palestinians in gaza saying this is not acceptable, it does not allow us to be able to make a living, it is not far out enough and our territory extends beyond that. a very strong stick point there that is as much economic as anything else. we do want to talk about what the egyptians have been saying. at first they said they were very, very close, that the two sides were close to having some sort of a deal. hamas, though, saying israel did not try hard enough. israel saying the rockets came over and we simply cannot negotiate when we are being fired upon. >> sara, also the situation there in israel, what about the iron droe iron dome? obviously we've seen the situation in gaza. but what's the situation in

israel? the iron dome is still effective with the missiles. >> reporter: yes. the iron dome is still in the places that they have been put -- usually they're put in places far enough away from the border because they can only strike a missile that is a certain number of kilometers away in order to tag it, target it, and knock it down and intercept it. but those are still in place. because rockets have still been fired and fired towards populated areas. we know that sirens have gone off just a few minutes ago, before i started speaking to you, in southern israel. and so basically, the situation seems to be back where it started. however, there are far fewer rockets that we've seen. and i know that sounds a bit strange. but there are far fewer rockets than we've been seeing throughout this time. it's been, what, four weeks, we're going into now or fifth week. and so there is some hope that perhaps there is going to be some kind of continuation of talks. but israel being very, very clear that if there is firing

coming from gaza that the negotiations cannot happen. the palestinians both from the west bank and from gaza are saying, look, we will stay here, we will try to continue to get some sort of consensus here, but we do need the israelis to be involved. and i think what you're seeing now is if there is quiet for quiet perhaps we will see talks again but that has to be -- quiet for quiet has to be in place in order for the talks to resume. and of course the u.n. and many people around the world saying these talks must happen, this fighting must stop. especially because of the humanitarian situation that is happening there in gaza. >> cnn's sara sidner on the ground in jerusalem. sara, we appreciate your reporting. >> all right. let's go now to gaza, which is once again in the crosshairs, and that's where our john vause is standing by live, monitoring the developments. john, we heard from sara the cease-fire ended, fire, the fighting resumed. and again, the death toll ticking up. what have you been seeing over

the past few hours? >> reporter: well, amara, it's actually relatively quiet this morning on this saturday. there is still the sound of israeli drones overhead. but this is gaza, and there is always the sound of israeli drones overhead. there is also the occasional sound of an israeli jet as it passes by. but there was a number of loud explosions echoing across gaza city into the early hours of this morning. and with israel's military continuing to pound gaza and militants still firing those rockets into israel, both sides it seems are showing no signs of returning to those peace negotiations in cairo anytime soon. especially after that cease-fire ended on friday. as the clock ticked down to the end of three days of calm, gaza's streets began to empty.

but moments after the deadline israelis were running for bomb shelters. dozens of rockets landing in southern israel. and they kept coming as far away as tel aviv. israel says it agreed to extend the cease-fire without conditions, it was hamas which refused. palestinians blame israel for not agreeing to any of their demands at those peace talks in cairo. and with black smoke rising once again over gaza, israel's military picked up where it left off. buildings and homes pounded by air strikes. we're told first came a knock on the roof, a warning from the israelis the house was about to be hit. everyone got out. and then came the air strike. and it did this. palestinian officials say the first deadly strike in gaza in three days happened here. a 10-year-old boy hit by shrapnel from an israeli missile. he was out playing with friends.

the cease-fire was over. should they not have been inside? >> no clubs. no places to play. >> reporter: so nowhere else for them to go? >> what are they do? all time they are in the house. >> reporter: with the quiet shattered, u.n. schools turned sheltered again began to fill. that's where the al wachti family was heading after their neighbor's home was destroyed. how long do you think this war will continue? "only god knows," he says. "only god knows." but hamas is warning palestinians be ready for a long conflict with israel. now, the israelis say they cannot talk peace while they are under hostile fire. the palestinians in turn are accusing the israelis of essentially stalling, refusing to even consider seriously their demand to lift the economic

siege of gaza. ama amara? >> all right. let's hope both sides will eventually get back to the negotiating table. john vause with the latest there. thank you, john. and ahead here on cnn, an experimental serum amid a devastating ebola outbreak. >> coming up, why the treatment has been used on two american patients but african victims have yet to see the drug. [ female announcer ] we help make secure financial tomorrows a reality

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the world health organization calls the ebola outbreak in west africa an international health emergency. on friday the w.h.o. urged a coordinated global response to stop the spread of the virus. the announcement came as nigerian president goodluck approved more than $11 million to help battle the disease. since march more than 1,700 suspected cases have been reported across guinea, sierra leone, liberia, and nigeria. at least 961 people so far have died. two american missionary aid workers who contracted ebola were recently flown to the u.s. to isolation in an atlanta area hospital. now, they are both said to be responding to an experimental serum they were given. many, though, are demanding that drug be given to african patients. elizabeth cohen has more. >> reporter: the husband of one of the two american ebola

patients shared his thoughts on his wife's battle. >> i'm grateful and happy that she's in a place that enables her to receive the best care possible, and that will give her every opportunity to get better and to recover. >> reporter: to hear the cdc tell it, nothing works to treat ebola. >> we've reviewed the evidence of the treatments out there, and don't find any treatment that's had proven effectiveness against ebola disease. >> reporter: but what about the experimental drug given to dr. kent brantly and nancy writebol that likely saved their lives? they got the drug when african patients didn't. many critics now asking why did the two americans receive the serum when hundreds have already died in west africa and many more are at risk? currently there's very little of the drug to give. >> the world supply of that drug, i imagine, would fit in a teacup. >> reporter: but that of course is fixable.

they could with time make more. the ethical problems are much thornier. >> look, twoef people who got it. but you want to wait a couple of weeks to see that they don't get terrible side effects, their livers aren't destroyed, they don't die all of a sudden of some unexpected consequence. you also want to make sure you do a little more safety study so you know what dose to give. >> reporter: dr. peter piod, who helped discover the virus, and two other ebola experts, say patients in africa should get a chance to take the drug, writing in the "wall street journal," they said, "it is highly likely that if ebola were now spreading in western countries public health authorities would give at-risk patients access to experimental drugs. the african countries where the current outbreaks of ebola are occurring should have the same opportunity. that's unlikely to happen anytime soon. asked if he'd consider sending the drug to africa when it comes available, president obama had this to say. >> i think we've got to let the science guide us.

i don't think all the information's in on whether this drug is helpful. >> reporter: getting all that information could take a long time as africans continue to die of ebola. elizabeth cohen, cnn, reporting. >> but it is incredible that it seems these two american patients are responding to this experimental drug. >> it seems like it was very important to their recovery. >> yeah. absolutely. well, still to come here on cnn -- >> typhoon halong is still a few hours away from landfall in japan. we have an update on its path from meteorologist ivan cabrera. next. also, terror experts say isis may be the best equipped of any jihadist group. a look at what's powering that black flag.

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the triple choice sale ends sunday at sleep train. ♪ sleep train ♪ ♪ your ticket to a better night's sleep ♪ welcome back. we've got another storm to talk about. and typhoon halong is set to make landfall in japan. meteorologist ivan cabrera standing by at the cnn weather center. how are you? >> good to see you, amara. nasty weather already on top of japan here, and i must say i think the worst of this is still going to be the rainfall because we've had so much of it over the last several weeks here with other typhoons. here's halong, 130-kilometer pr-hour winds. that's just about 80 miles per hour. there's the center of circulation, east of kagoshima. they're going into kochi which has been pounded by torrential rainfall. we're now a foot and a half of rainfall across that area.

and the storm hasn't even made it in. all these bands are going to continue to wrap around. we could easily see another 100 to 200 millimeters of water. that is going to be a problem here. and again, this area is just completely saturated, cannot take any more water, so it won't take much falling from the sky to get us into trouble here. one of the areas vulnerable here, kochi, because of the steep terrain, just like what happened with iselle in hawaii, all that water falling quickly down the mountain and could be flooding at kochi here. and as i mentioned, they've already had upwards of 400 millimeters of rainfall in just the last couple of days. so more is going to be on the way. there's your computer model forecast, honing in on this. and then the system weakens. but again, i think the big threat will be the rainfall. a lot of questions over the last several days on twitter and in the newsroom. the difference, hurricane, typhoon, basically, it's where they form. they're all tropical cyclones. south of the equator that's the only thing we call them. and then east of the

international dateline, once they reach a certain threshold, 74 miles an hour, 120 kph, we call them hurricanes. when they cross the dateline, we call them typhoons. and in fact, genevieve, which is the system you see here, did that. it was a hurricane. and then it became a typhoon. just a difference in the name. it's the same thing. so there you go. hope that answers it for you. >> sure does. ivan cabrera, thank you. and still to come -- >> they are well armed, and it seems that they are well disciplined. why u.s. officials say we should not underestimate isis. then the family of a hamas militant grieves for their lost son. cnn brings you this story out of gaza. plus, similar pain from the other side. an israeli family who said their final good-byes to their soldier son. ♪ [ woman ] if you have moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis like me, and you're talking to your rheumatologist about a biologic... this is humira. this is humira helping to relieve my pain.

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