Iraq crisis: Armed US drones in use to protect advisers Published duration 27 June 2014

image copyright AP image caption The US has pledged support to Iraqi forces facing a Sunni insurgency in the north and west of the country

Armed US drones are flying over Iraq to protect American military advisers on the ground, say officials.

Their role is "force protection" of US assessment teams helping Iraqi security forces repel militants now running large parts of the country.

They are supporting other manned and unmanned aircraft making 30-40 surveillance missions each day.

The news comes as Iraq's most influential Shia cleric called for a prime minister to be appointed soon.

Grand Ayatollah Sistani said that key government positions should be agreed by the time the new parliament meets on Tuesday.

There have been calls inside and outside Iraq for a national unity government but the various political factions have been unable to reach a deal.

Large parts of Iraq were seized by Sunni militants earlier this month.

On Friday, Rear Admiral John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said: "We continue to fly manned and unmanned aircraft over Iraq at the Iraqis' request.

"Some of those are armed. The reason they are is for force protection measures because we have advisors there. Primary reason is for force protection purposes".

The New York Times reported that they are Predator drones, equipped with Hellfire missiles, and they began flights over Baghdad on Thursday,

image copyright AP image caption President Obama denied the US would be "dragged back" into a messy conflict in Iraq

US officials told Reuters a joint Iraq-US operations centre in Baghdad staffed by about 90 military personnel will open next week.

US President Barack Obama said last week he was ready to take targeted military action in Iraq if necessary.

He said 300 military advisers were being deployed in Iraq and in neighbouring countries to help the Iraqi security forces.

Half of that contingent arrived earlier this week, their primary job being to assess the capabilities of the Iraqi forces and advise on what should be done.

They are in a position to call in air strikes against the militants if it is deemed necessary.

Earlier this week, the Iraqi government said that Syria was conducting airstrikes against militants on the Syria-Iraq border.