Britain has released footage of an air drop of humanitarian supplies to Iraqis fleeing from Islamic State fighters.<br /><br />The video, taken from a Tornado jet, shows a Royal Air Force Hercules plane dropping supplies over Iraq’s Mount Sinjar, according to the Ministry of Defence.<br /><br />It comes amid reports in Britain’s Telegraph newspaper that the UK has deployed Special Air Service forces to gather intelligence in the area alongside US troops.<br /><br />Germany too has been sending humanitarian aid expected to arrive in Iraq on Friday evening. <br /><br />Germany’s Defence Minister Ursula Von der Leyen says the government also plans to send non-lethal military aid such as vehicles, helmets, night-vision gear and bomb detectors.<br /><br />“The medical relief, food and blankets is just the start. We’re preparing to send additional material as and when the need arises,” she told reporters at Hohn airbase.<br /><br />On Wednesday, the United Nations declared the situation a level three emergency, its highest level of humanitarian crisis.
