don't you dare imploy billingsgate when writing us. please always remember the spin stops here. definitely looking out for you. breaking tonight, all eyes on the white house and iraq now as we're learning from senior u.s. officials confirming to fox that president obama has approved an emergency mission in the skies over the northern part of that country. we're hearing this is just for humanitarian purposes, but there are reports u.s. military action might not be far behind. welcome to ""the kelly file."" the u.s. cargo jets are in the air at this hour. the news that the u.s. could be launching air strikes in a nation where 5,000 american lives were already lost comes as the al qaeda offshoot calling it the islamic state forces thousands of civilians to flee into an iraqi mountain range.

religious minorities being forced to decide between starvation and death in what is increasingly being called a religious genocide. families are burying young and old in shallow graves as dozens parish from lack of food or water. they face the unthinkable choice of returning to towns under terrorist control or stay iing the mountains to slowly die of thirst and temperatures in access of 100 degrees. and while the white house has gone so far to say the situation is bordering on a humanitarian crisis, just a few hours ago they were refusing to say whether this genocide would be enough to force america to act. ed henry is live at the white house. jack keene and chris stier all on standby. we start with ed. >> we're standing by to see in the briefing room if the president himself will e emerge shortly to tell us what he has authorized. no official confirmation of that

yet. what we do know so far is senior officials telling us this hour that the humanitarian aspect of this mission has begun over the skies over northern iraq to try and get relief to those people who, as you mentioned, so desperately need it. the question now is that accompanied by u.s. airstrikes as well. for one reason you might need the air strikes to open up a relief corridor to make sure the relief get to the people who need it. but number two, target, the cargo planes bringing in the humanitarian relief. that's where we are waiting to hear. you noted that josh ernest was calling this potential humanitarian catastrophe but would not commit to military action saying they are scarred. they don't want another large-scale war and laid out that any military action needs to make sure that it involves the core interests in the united states.

so i pressed him repeatedly on whether preventing a genocide falls within the core interest of the united states. josh ernest would not answer directly. if you listen to this clip, two years ago, the president made that very promise. listen. >> there's about to be a possible genocide of 40,000 people and you're saying we're seriously concerned, we're monitoring it. doesn't that seem like a disconnect? >> no, ed, because this is something we are closely watching. it is something that -- >> people might be slaughtered. >> and we are actively supporting the iraq security forces to try to confront this problem. >> i made it clear that preventing mass trosties and genocide is a core national security interest and a core moral responsibility of the united states of america. >> now you can see from this official white house photo that came out a short time ago shs the president was grappling with this today. meeting with his national security team.

right after that meeting, we have video of the president getting close to his chief of staff. the president looking agitated. we don't know if that's because he was concerned about the options that had just been laid out to him. whether he was upset about this leaking right after the national security meeting. it leaked out -- we're now getting a five-minute warning that suggests that the president will be making a statement that we have to get ready. he will be making a statement later this evening. we do now expect to hear from the president a short time from now. but that video is interesting. it suggests the president was agitated about something leading up to this mission. we expect to hear from him directly about what has happened and what has not happened. >> ed henry live as we now await word from the president. we'll check back with you when that happens. while the white house is yet to

con if you remember that air strierk strikes or military activity will happen in iraq, our next guess suggest it is it may have no effect on the group committing these brutal crimes. the former chief of staff and a fox news military analyst, general, tell us why you think the ire strikes may not ae leave the situation that we have going on? >> the air stristrikes are used justifiably sofa sill tat a humanitarian mission. that makes a lot of sense depending on where the enemy is, what their disposition is. they have two choices. to drop them low, which make s it easier for them to do so. if the enemy is in the area, they would probably not do that. let's help these people for sure. we have to e get after it quickly. that does nothing to stop this growing menace that we see in the middle east. on this weekend, they have moved in to lebanon.

now they are in kurdistan. both of those things have very dramatic and telling to us and we have to develop a comprehensive strategy with our allies to e get after this thing. >> general, i want to quickly ask you, why do you think we have waited until this point? >> well, i think it's pretty obvious. the president, i think, is totally disagreed with the iraq war, felt the afghanistan war went on too long. thought it was his mission to disengage from the middle east. so he has great difficulty dealing with these conflicts that are in the middle east. but the problem is all the people that want to kill us in the world largely are in the middle east. and that is the problem we have in front of us. he made a strategic mistake, shannon, right at the beginning of this crisis when he said that the primary issue here is iraq political reconciliation. that will be the condition for me to take any action when really the primary issue has been from the beginning, is

tonight, is isis and its growing menace. i'm not saying the plilt call situation in iraq is not important, but it's not as critical as stopping isis. isis must be stopped. our allies have the capacity to do it. >> and there is an immediate threat at least with the individual people. i know a lot of folks are saying what is the immediate threat to the u.s. or to the u.s. homeland. does that have to factor in. it certainly must, but where do you draw the line when you have the humanitarian situation like this where we see people begging and pleading for anyone who can help them as we have tens of thousands of people there with no power to save themselves. >> well, that's absolutely true. we have the capacity to do that. i'm convinced we are going to provide that kind of assistance to be sure. we have had a number of surprises here. one of the kpraps of the iraqi army. the second is the beginning of the collapse of which was not

well armed. they have been asking us for a long time to be properly armed. isis outguns them, quite frankly. isis is going to continue to move as it flushes out this call fate of theirs. there's real danger to the kurds here. we have to make an immediate decision about providing assistance to them. >> general, thank you very much for staying with us on the story tonight. we'll keep an eye on it and see how this plays out for the administration. thank you, sir. >> you're welcome. >> just a reminder, you're looking at the white house. we're waiting for the president to speak. that's going to be just a little bit later. we'll take you live there as soon as that happens. let's talk with our fox news digital editor. the president, it is a tough job. he's got to make very difficult decisions. what does he do with this one? >> well, there's a substantial political overlay here, shannon, because we have seen the president's approval ratings with the american people plummet on foreign policy as these

crises not just with isis, but in eastern europe, with vladimir putin, with the ongoing conflict in gaza. consequences of the arab spring and on and on and the u.s. border crisis. so the president and democrats are low in the public confidence in their ability to handle international crises. and don't forget it's an election year. so the president is certainly hearing from senate democrats who say this can't go on like this. and don't also forget this. this is still a predominantly christian country and voters have been hearing sunday after sunday about the plight of christians in iraq and under the tlaul of isis over there. this is something that american voters are paying attention to and that they are hearing and they want results. >> and it's something that's been going on for a long time. we have seen it in syria, in a number of other countries where it's been building and building where their entire regions and cities where specific religious minorities are being told you

can't live here or we're going to chop your head off. those are the options given. it's not new, but it's reaching a point where there is international attention on to it now. people are hearing about this in churches, seeing it in the papers and it's 35r9 part of the daily discussion of their lives. if the white house is authorizing to move ahead with the humanitarian drops, do you think that's going to be enough to satisfy the people who are so worried about those who are being trapped and murdered? or do you think how carefully does the president thread that needle with military action against those who they voted for because he said enough of that over there in the middle east? >> well, there's enough and then there's enough. the question here for the president is you call attention to it, you say we have to do something to help these people, you call attention to the people, you formerly called the jv team. you call attention to the problem, you say that a potential threat to the united states exists. you talk about it. then it goes on.

we watch this president let the civil war in syria, a genocidal civil war, go on and on and on and continue to this day. we have watched that happen. we have watched libya where we instituted e regime change. we were part of a coalition that instituted regime change fall to utter pieces. and the american public, which certainly wanted out of iraq and certainly wants out of afghanistan and is sick and tired of being sick and tired of watching americans die at war are also watching in horror as the world situation and world security unravels while vladimir putin laughs from the other side of the peninsula. >> hearing from the president we expect in a few minutes, what would you advise him in case he's listening, if you were part of his team, what would you advise him to come out and say to the american people tonight? >> you got to be clear, you got to be strong, you got to say

what you're going to do. you don't want to mumble. you don't want to talk in broad platitudes. that's okay when you're given a political speech, but when you're talking about military action or the possibility of military action, you have to say, this is the problem. this is the solution we propose. it needs to be clean, it needs to be clear so you don't lose the thread. the other thing he has to worry about is infuriating his political base. democrats are already not activated to help him keep the senate. he doesn't want to scare them and make him think they are going on a bombing raid. >> chris, thank you as always. we are waiting the president speaking at any moment tonight as the air drop in northern iraq of humanitarian supplies is confi confirmed. the skies have been exited. our next guest is someone who served in iraq and believes the la latest developments mean there

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breaking tonight, we are waiting president obama to speak live about the cry sies in northern iraq. we'll take you to the white house as soon as that happens. all of this news is coming as we get chilling new video. terrorists are set to be in

iraq. cameras capturing controlling a check point. raising their black flag over an abandoned guard post. a former cia officer who served in iraq now believes that american boots will be deployed in some fashion. we have talked about it, we have hundreds of american personnel, is the best word to use. they are on the ground. what happens now? >> we should be very clear about that. the administration pretends that's not going to happen. there are 800 unofficially. how do those u.s. boots get utilized in this theater of conflict? given what we're seeing happening, the president is talking about giving food essentially to the group of people stuck up in the mountains. this is going to be a last meal unless someone comes and gets them out. there has to be something other than air drop of food. someone has to take out the terrorists in the area.

otherwise these people are waiting until they are captured and many will be executed. >> what can we do with 800 people? >> it depends on what the overall strategy is going to be. you may need people on the ground to find those targets. there's logistic support that's already happening in baghdad and surrounding areas. you may see special forces, raids going on, covert operations of some capacity, things like that couldbecause t going to get broader. you have multiple catastrophes in this part of iraq. you have the possibility of the dam being used essentially as a weapon. right now, they want to keep it because it allows them to control electricity and water flow. if they lose ground. isis could decide to blow the dam up for spite. you have the population completely encircled. and the main kurdish city is

threatened. isis is saying they are going to take it. nobody would have taken that seriously before they took mosul. we have to take them seriously. if they take that city, baghdad is next on the hit list. >> in january there were comments by secretary kerry talking about what we're seeing there now. this is all playing out. he was saying we can't get involved. but he said, isis, their butchery is on display. we knew this was happening. why did it get o to this point before we decided we have to do something? >> the president's foreign policy is feckless, but it has been consistent in one capacity and that he wants to make sure he has gotten us out of iraq and afghanistan. doesn't matter what the consequences of that will be. at wub point he was saying his withdrawal of u.s. forces was a great thing. he was taking a lot of credit for it. iraq is steady and secure. now we're seeing this one foot in, one foot out policy talking

about humanitarian drop. that's nothing. the administration's knee jerk response, they are being invaded by russian separatists. they have lost a chunk of t territory. we are dropping food to them. they are going to do the same thing in iraq. this is not enough. this is just half measures and shows the president doesn't have a strategy to deal with the problem. it's only going to get worse. >> i want to ask about the people on the mountainside. they are dying, they have nowhere to go because if they come down the mountain, isis is waiting there. you have been in the e region. >> it is a vast expanse of desert. it's flat, there's very little that's there. you have some settlements connected with a few roads. isis has seized those roads. there's very little infrastructure there. once you seize that, you have total control of the area. you get close to the syrian border, which has been isis has

been able to seize this because they can move back and forth between the two. the idea you have people stuck up on the mountain at this time of year, it is a grave and mortal threat to all of them. if someone doesn't do something, this is going to be a mass casualty event. >> we're wait og to hear what the president says is the plan. thank you very much. new details just in on that air drop that happened. it just happened in northern iraq. details in just minutes as we continue to wait for president obama who will speak live from the white house tonight. stay here on ""the kelly file."" hoo, hoo, hoo oohh, you got it! i love the looks of it. (sound of garage closing) nobody touches my dodge dart, jake johnson not even your best friend slash neighbor? no one i can still get in craig i'd like to see you try all i'd have to do is roll in, dude. let's see it i choose not to right now come on indiana common, let me in. let me in! mmmm let me sit in the car mmmm ♪ don't touch my dart

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breaking tonight, we are waiting a statement from president obama any minute as we're get iting new details on e air drop, the humanitarian drop into northern iraq.

cargo aircraft were part of the mission. they were escort ed by f-18 fighters. no word if those jets conducted any airstrikes. we understand just humanitarian drops confirmed for now. retired air force lieutenant is a fox news contributor and joins us now. general, good to see you tonight. what do you make of what we know so far? >> well, i like that we're helping the kurds very much, shannon. what i'm not very pleased about is if we did not strike them. this is an ideal opportunity to strike isis. any vehicle on the road, any former american vehicle, we ought to be striking them. we have an opportunity. we could use b-1s with sniper pods, we could do it with b -52s. the fact is it's a good opportunity for us to hit isis right now. and if we don't contain isis there, particularly since they are going after the kurds, it's

going to be an even bigger threat in the region and we don't want it. they used to be 10,000. now they are upwards of 50,000 in the region. they are equally as bad as hamas. now is the time in protecting the kurds that we use our air power very effectively and destroy them. >> and general, i know you have expressed some concerns that we may be at a disadvantage at this point because of the assets we do or don't have positioned in that area. >> yeah, and so the f-18s were probably off the carrier, but the fact is bombers have the range. we have our global hawks that are either out of europe or the middle east that could give us the intelligence, surveillance and so we have enough assets to hit these targets. plus what the air crews could s see. any vehicles at the base of the mountain, on the roads, they are isis. so we should attack them. and we should not miss this

opportunity. a very important opportunity for us. >> we have had some folks speculate about boots on the ground possibly. we know we have 800 people there for other missions. you say, though, you don't think this is going to escalate to the point of what we traditionally believe is sending in troops. >> i don't believe that we need boots on the ground right now. we can do it with air power. it is such an easy target set that we can handle it very easily. and that's where the rub comes with the administration and how many boots on the ground do you put there. this president is not going to do that. but he ought to use air power. i can't emphasize that enough. that could have a huge impact on isis. >> so let's talk about the kurdish people, why it's so critical we would be the ones to step in and help them and what role they play in that area as far as trying to resist the radical folks. >> the kurds have been

absolutely magnificent from the time of saddam hussein all the way through. they have been a very active, creative, economic power house over there. unfortunately, we did not arm them. we gave all the weapons primarily to the sunnis and the shia there, the iraqis, and that's their problem right now. they do not have the mass and the equipment that isis sees from the failed iraqi army. so that's why we have got to help them now. i would not have problem with boots on the ground in other areas to help train. they are our strongest allies in the region next to the israelis. so we ought to be helping the kurds. >> how critical is it that we have help from the surrounding countries there whether it's utilizing air space, whether they bring in ground forces or air forces? what kind of coordination do you think is happening behind the

scenes or has been. >> it's very important. egypt, again, stands out to be such a critical ally. the saudis are on our side now. the uae, they all see the evil of this radical islamic force i isis and that's starting to sweep through the region with hamas and hezbollah. so it's a very dangerous threat that they see and they want to work behind the scenes to help not only the united states, but the israelis. we need a policy that adapts to that. they can be extremely effective in helping us. >> general, we thank you very much for your time and for your service as well. >> we're moments away from president obama making a statement live from the white house. we go now to brett baer with breaking news. >> we are awaiting a statement from president obama. he's authorized a humanitarian mission inside iraq. air dropping supplies to iraqi

christians trapped by isis insurgents, the terrorist army that's been rampaging its way through northern iraq. we're going to pause for one moment to let all the fox affiliate stations across the country join us for this event. a live statement from president obama in the state dining room of the white house. i'm brett baer in washington. president obama approved air drops of humanitarian supplies to tens of thousands of christians trapped without food or water in northern iraq by an islamist extremist group. that group now has control of a large part of iraq and is seen in a map we're going to show you. they also have control of the mosul dam. that's the largest in that country. the president with his national security team considering whether to combine that assistance with u.s. airstrikes

to back up troops on the ground. tens of thousands of iraqis fled their homes after the islamic state group issued an ultimate um. this group has been rampaging its way throughout northern iraq. they have been going across the lines of the kurdish fighters. now president obama in the state dining room. >> good evening. today i authorized two operations in iraq. targeted airstrikes and a humanitarian effort to save thousands of iraqi civilians who are trapped on a mountain without food and water and facing almost certain death. let me explain the actions we're taking and why. first, i said in june as the terrorist group isil began an

advance that the united states would be prepared to take military action in iraq if and when we determined that the situation required it. in recent days, these terrorists have continued to move across iraq and have neared the city where american diplomats serve at our consulate and american military personnel advise iraqi forces. to stop the advance, i have directed military to take targeted strikes against convoys should they move toward the city. we tend to take action if the terrorist forces threaten our personnel or facilities anywhere in iraq. including our consulate and embassy in baghdad. we're also providing urgent assistance so they can more effectively wage the fight against isil. second, at the request of the iraqi government. we have begun operations to help save iraqi civilians stranded on

the mountain. as isil has marged across iraq, it's waged a ruthless campaign and terrorists have been bar barrish minorities. a small and ancient religious site. iraqis have been displaced and chilling reports describe militants rounding up families, conducting mass executions and enslaving women. in recent days, women, men and children from the area have fled for their lives. and thousands, perhaps tens of thousands are now hiding high up on the mountain with little but the clothes on their backs. they are without food, they are without water, people are starving and children are dying of thirst. meanwhile, force force below have called for a destruction of the people which would

constitute genocide. these innocent families are faced with a horrible choice. descend the mountain and be slaughtered or stay and slowly die of thirst and hunger. i have said before the united states cannot and should not intervene every time there's a crisis in the world. so let me be clear about why we must act and act now. when we face a situation liex like we do on the mountain with innocent people facing violence on a horrific scale, when we have a mandate to help a request from the iraqi government and when we have the unique capabilities to help avert a massacre, i believe the united states of america cannot turn a blind eye. we can act carefully and responsibly to prevent a potential act of genocide. that's what we're doing on the mountain. i have authorized targeted air strikes if necessary to help forces in iraq as they fight to

break the entrapment. american aircraft have dropped food and water to help men, women and children survive. earlier this week, one iraqi in the area cried to the world, there is no one coming to help. well, today america is coming to help. we're also consulting with other countries and the united nations who have called for action to address this humanitarian crisis. i know that many of you are rightly concerned about any american military action in iraq. even limited strikes like these. i understand that. i ran for this office in part to end our war in iraq and welcome our troops home and that's what we have done. as commander-in-chief, i will not allow the united states to be dragged into fighting another war in iraq, so even as we support iraqis as they take the fight to these terrorists, american combat troops will not be returning to fight in iraq because there's no american military solution to the larger

crisis in iraq. the only lasting solution is reconciliation among iraqi communities and stronger iraqi security forces. however, we can and should support moderate forces who can bring stability to iraq. so even as we carry out these two missions, we will continue to pursue a broader strategy that empowers iraqis to confront this crisis. iraqi leaders need to come together and forge a new government that represent the rest interests of all iraqis. iraqis have named a new president, a new speaker ofparla new prime minister. this is the progress that needs to continue in order to reverse the momentum of the terrorist who is prey on iraq's divisions. once iraq has a new government, the united states will work with it and other countries in the region to provide increased support to deal with this humanitarian crisis and

counterterrorism challenge. none of iraq's neighbors have an interest in this terrible suffering or instability, so we'll continue to work with our friends and allies to heavy refugees get the food and water they need and the help them push back. the several hundred american advisers that i ordered to iraq will continue to assess what more we can do to help train, advise and support iraqi forces going forward. just as i consulted congress on the decisions i made today, we'll continue to do so going forward. my fellow americans, the world is confronted by many challenges and while america has never been able to right every wrong, america has made the world a more secure and prosperous place. our leadership is necessary to underwrite the global security that our children and our grandchildren will depend on. we do so by adhering to a set of core principles.

we do whatever is necessary to protect our people. we support our allies when they are in danger. we lead coalitions of countries to upheld international norms. and we strive to stay true to the fundamental values, the desire to live with basic freedom and dignity that is common to human beings wherever they are. that's why people all over the world look to the united states of america to lead. and that's why we do it. let me close by assuring you that there's no decision that i take more seriously than the use of military force. over the last several years, we have brought the vast majority of our troops home from iraq and afghanistan, and i have been careful to resist calls to turn time and again to our military because america has other tools in our arsenal than our military. we can lead with the power of our diplomacy, our economy, and our ideals. when the lives of american citizens are at risk, we will

take action. that's my responsibility as commander-in-chief. and when many thousands of innocent civilians are faced with the danger of being wiped out and we have the capacity to do something about it, we will take action. that is our responsibility as americans. that's a hallmark of american leadership. that's who we are. so tonight we give thanks to our men and women in uniform, especially our brave pilots and crews over iraq for protecting our fellow americans and saving the lives of so many men, women and children that they will never meet. they represent american leadership at its best. as a nation we should be proud of them and of our country's commitment to uphold our own security and the dignity of our fellow human beings. god bless our armed forces and god bless the united states of america. >> president obama from the state dining room in the white house. he announced he authorized

military strikes against isis. the president authorized a humanitarian mission to help rescue tens of thousands of iraqis, many of them christians. you see them trapped on a mountain. those air drops have already started. that terrorist army is controlling a larger part of iraq. for a president who pulled troops out of iraq, he said combat troops will not be returning to fight inside iraq. . he referenced targeted airstrikes to support iraqi and kurdish forces. the bigger problem in the long-term must be solved by the iraqis. the president said the u.s. cannot turn a blind eye about a possible genocide using that word. this is a difference action than he chose in syria's civil war. the president said he will do whatever necessary to protect the people in the u.s. and there's no decision he takes more seriously than the use of

military force. but tonight he is using it inside iraq. please stay tuned to fox news channel and this fox station for continuing coverage of this breaking story. let's get reaction now from ed henry. ed, your thoughts on the president's statement? >> i think what you laid out is important. the president saying, look, if he can prevent a genocide, the united states cannot turn a blind eye. that's something we asked his press secretary today and he could not say that. the president has spoken and said i authorized this mission because we needed to prevent a genocide. whether it does prevent it, whether this is enough, we'll see in the hours ahead. the big looming question will be what does he do next? he may be able to stop the genocide, but what will he do to stop the march of isis towards baghdad and other big cities? they are taking over large pieces of not just iraq, but

they have already taken over chunks of syria. there's great concern this could eventually be a big national security threat to the united states right here at home. if you think back to something he said three years ago now when he pulled out all u.s. troops from iraq, he said that iraq is not a perfect place, but we're leaving behind, quote, a sovereign, stable and self-reliant iraq. by the president's own estimation, the iraqi government is nowhere being self-reliant. he wants a new prime minister in power and it it's certainly not stable tonight. that's why he had to authorize this mission. >> ed henry live on the north lawn, thank you very much. we'll have more on all these stories and this action throughout the night here on fox news channel. a bit of other news, the reason i'm here. election coverage. now we can call that u.s. senator lamar alexander has defeated his tea party challenger joe carr in tennessee's republican primary. former two-term governor running

for a third term this year. this was expected to be a stiff competition from his opponent, but we can call that race. there you see the numbers as they are still coming in, but it has just been called that lamar alexander will win this primary and likely thereby in tennessee when reelection we'll see come the fall. but that is it from washington. a busy, busy night. we send it back to shannon breen in new york. >> thank you, brett. president obama saying the u.s. is not going to be dragged into a new war in iraq. let's return to u.s. air force lieutenant general tom macneary. your reaction to the president's remarks. >> i commend him, but i'm worried what targeted airstrikes mean. we need to give 24/7 air power around the kurds and we need to very aggressively go after isis.

by defeating them significantly in that region, they will pull back and then, as i said, i think we need to rearm the -- we never rearmed them, we need to arm them so they can defend themselves. but we cannot just do pinpricks. we must have 24/7 air cover. we can do it with bombers and with their precision weapons. we ought to have very liberal rules of engagement and not these restrictive rules of engagement that they have come up with iraq and afghanistan. let's let air power operate. we can have global hawks and reapers that can ask as air controllers. >> general, we thank you for sticking around for us. good to see you, sir. >> thanks, shannon. more on the speech just ahead. plus breaking news we're just getting in from israel. a new strike into israel. that's just ahead on t"the kell

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thank ythank you for defendiyour sacrifice. and thank you for your bravery. thank you colonel. thank you daddy. military families are uniquely thankful for many things, the legacy of usaa auto insurance can be one of them. if you're a current or former military member or their family, get an auto insurance quote and see why 92% of our members plan to stay for life. that two rockets just fired from gaza have landed in southern israel. these are live pictures now from gaza. the cease-fire was supposed to extend a few more hours before it expired. no injuries reported so far from the latest rockets. nobody claiming responsibility. any and all developments on that as soon as they come in. we'll keep you updated. i will not allow the united

states to be dragged into fighting another war in iraq. so even as we support iraqis as they take the fight to these terrorists, american combat troops will not be returning to fight in iraq because there's no american military solution to the larger crisis in iraq. >> that was president obama just moments ago after announcing u.s. military air drops in iraq and also authorization for airstrikes in certain conditions. joe, always good to see you. the president is under a lot of pressure. he sort of made a two-pronged decision. to beef up the humanitarian aid, but you were hearing that airstrikes by somebody were happening. the u.s. has authorized them under concern conditions. it doesn't seem that the president said we have done that. >> somebody has. i worked in this area in 2010. i have a lot of friends there. first, they were calling me in the morning saying please save

us, please do something. then they started to call and say bombs were dropping, there was air power being unleashed. whether that was the turks or american armed forces, we don't know, but somebody was doing air support there just within the last few hours. >> the president made it clear here we're not going into a new war. no boots on the ground. will the assurances be enough for the right? >> i don't think the president cares about the politics. the people are welcoming this it news. the people who if somebody doesn't do something to stop isis from moving in, if irbil falls, that will be a disaster. i don't think anybody on either side of the spectrum saw the kurds being in trouble. that was the one safe place we all thought in iraq.

i think those people watching this and welcome this news. it's real important step for the u.s. to take. >> absolutely. joe, always good to see you. more on the breaking news about the rockets fired from gaza into israel just moments ago, that's next.

breaking tonight, reports that two rockets have just been fired from gaza and hit in southern israel. these are live pictures right now from gaza. the cease-fire is just hours away from formally expiring. so far, no group claiming responsibility for the latest rockets. earli earlier i spoke with a mid-east expert. in he successfully negotiated an israeli soldier held by hamas for more than five

years. he warns that hamas is planning homicide attacks against israel. i asked if there was any hope that hamas puts down arms? >> hamas is continued to commit the attacks, as we've heard from their threats, we've heard from people in the military, their readiness to go back to battle on the backs, of course, of millions of gazans have who suffered while the leaders have been protected in underground shelters they have built for themselves, this is a real tragedy. because the people in gaza have been suffering the most. >> i wanted to ask you about the 3,000 suicide fighters. it's my understanding they were told to say good-bye to their families, to go with suicide vests and take out as many israelis as they can if the hostilities start. do you envision that wave moving forward? >> i think they will try. they haven't been successful

until now. i learned something today that i did not know. many were recruited by families who lost loved ones during an operation in 2009. the hamas military people visited all of the families in gaza and recruited their children to the military wing with the express goal of seeking revenge for the death of their fathers or brothers or loved ones and they are very dedicated to the cause of that revenge of hitting back at israel. this explains, perhaps, the very high level motivation of these fighters. these people are dedicated to their cause. they are willing to die. they have -- some have amount of justice on their side for sure and they believe they have total justice. it's a conflict of two peoples who have been fighting each other for a very long time and we have to end it. it's endable and this is what we have to realize. we can spend all of the time

annizing things but we need to be sitting down and figure out how to put an end to this 100-year-old conflict. >> gershon, thank you for your time and insight. and we'll be right back. but first, coming up on "hannity,". >> the middle east is swept by this volatile mix. it's now almost a brush fire of terrorist organization who is are using this tactic, targeting civilians while hiding behind civilians and we are left absolutely defenseless. hey pal? you ready?

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. busy night tonight on "the kelly file." i'm shannon breen in for megyn kelly on "the kelly file." welcome to "hannity" as day four of our coverage on the ground in israel. we're in tel aviv tonight and four days after heavy violence between israel and hamas, benjamin netanyahu addressed reporters yesterday to not only express deep regret for every civilian casualty but also to defend his country's response to the hamas terror attacks. i sat down for a one-on-one interview with the minister. let's take a look. >> mr. prime minister, great to see you again. >> good to see you, sean. welcom