DHAKA: Britain has begun airdropping food and water to thousands of civilians stranded on a mountain in northern Iraq after fleeing jihadist militants.

The British development ministry said on Sunday, reports The Straits Times.

Two British transport planes were deployed to the Sinjar region, where extremist Islamic State militants are on the offensive, on Saturday, a ministry spokesman told media.

BDST: 1555 HRS, AUG 10, 2014