The White House says President Barack Obama will deliver a statement Saturday on the situation in Iraq.

Obama is scheduled to make remarks at the White House at 10:25 a.m. before he leaves for vacation in Massachusetts.

Obama announced late Thursday that he had ordered military airstrikes in northern Iraq to hold off Islamic State forces advancing on the Kurdish capital of Irbil.

Obama also ordered airdrops of food and water to member of a religious minority group who fled into the mountains to escape the militants.

U.S. military jets launched several airstrikes Friday on isolated targets, including two mortar positions and a vehicle convoy. U.S. officials announced Friday night the second airdrop of food and water in as many days for the imperiled refugees.