U.S. offers security, humanitarian assistance to Iraq

WASHINGTON, June 12 (UPI) -- In response to the deteriorating security situation in Iraq, U.S. President Barack Obama said that Iraq will need "more help from us, and more help from the international community."

In terms of assistance, he noted that the U.S. has already delivered military equipment and that he would "not rule anything out."

Vice President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki on Thursday, assuring him "the United States is prepared to continue to intensify and accelerate security support and cooperation with Iraq, under the Strategic Framework Agreement, to confront the urgent and growing threat posed by ISIL."

A senior White House official clarified later that the administration is not considering deploying troops to Iraq. "No boots on the ground. Not being considered," the official made clear.

The State Department announced Thursday the U.S. is pledging $12.8 million in humanitarian assistance in order to "provide immediate relief by supplying food, shelter, and medicine for Iraq's rapidly growing population of displaced people."

On Wednesday, the International Organization for Migration reported that 500,000 Iraqis have fled their homes after the violent take over of Mosul, Iraq's second largest city. Another 430,000 were displaced by fighting in Anbar. They join the nearly one million internally displaced because of the war in Iraq.