WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon says the U.S. military has conducted airstrikes and dropped humanitarian aid to the beleaguered Iraqi city of Amirli, where thousands of Shiite Turkomen have been cut off from food and water for nearly two months by Islamic State militants.

The Pentagon's press secretary, Rear Adm. John Kirby, says aircraft from Australia, France and Britain joined the U.S. in the aid drop. Kirby says the aid came at the request of the Iraqi government.

Kirby says the U.S. military conducted the airstrikes against Islamic State militants in order to support the aid delivery.

Kirby says the operations will be limited in scope and duration as needed to address the humanitarian crisis in Amirli and protect the civilians trapped in the town.