法国对伊拉克展开人道主义援助

A plane load of French humanitarian aid has arrived in Irbil, Iraq following airdrops from U.S and British planes.

The aid will be distributed to thousands of displaced Iraqis including Christians, Yazidis and Shi'ite Shabak.

Islamic State (IS) militants has seized a large part of territory in northern Iraq, forcing tens of thousands to flee from their homes.

France's foreign minister Laurent Fabius is now visiting the capital of the Kurdistan region, pledging humanitarian aid.

"I would propose beginning from next week, to the European authorities, to establish a real European channel to Iraq and particularly, with the Kurdistan region."

Meanwhile, the political leader of Iraq's Kurds, Massoud Barzani, is appealing for international military aid to help defeat Islamic State militants.

The plea comes as the US launched a fourth round of air strikes against the extremist Sunni militants.

So far, Islamic State has reportedly killed at least 500 members of Iraq's Yazidi minority during its offensive.