Iraq has secretly asked for US air assistance to deal with stunning advances by Sunni Islamist militants.  But there’s no indication that the US wants to write a third chapter in Iraq, especially after President Obama withdrew the last of its forces in 2011.

Fighters with the al Qaeda offshoot group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) took over Tikrit, the hometown of dead dictator Saddam Hussein, as well as the oil-producing town of Baiji.  This comes just a day after US-trained Iraqi troops abandoned their positions and allowed the jihadists to take over Mosul.  The militants were already in control of Fallujah, and civilians say they’ve spotted the militants outside Samarra, threatening an important Shi’ite shrine.

The Iraqi request isn’t the first time Baghdad has signaled that it would be perfectly okay with US air strikes.  US National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said in a statement, “We are not going to get into details of our diplomatic discussions, but the government of Iraq has made clear that they welcome our support.” 

The US has carried out drone strikes in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Yemen.  But those were targeted against individuals believed to be plotting directly against the US, not in regional struggles.

Meanwhile, it’s now believed the 500,000 civilians are on the run.  The United Nations says the situation around Mosul is “worsening by the moment”.