The US President Barack Obama has said short-term immediate military actions are needed in Iraq - and the US is looking at options.

Iraq's armed forces are reported to be fighting back against militants who have taken over large parts of the country.

However a humanitarian crisis is looming, with half a million people fleeing the violence, many of them children.

Barack Obama made a statement during a press conference this evening.

"In our consultations with the Iraqi, there will be some short-term immediate things that need to be done militarily," the president said.

"Our national security team is looking at all the options, but this should also be a wake-up call for the Iraqi government - there has to be a political component to this."