'Touched my heart': Reporter documents evacuation of trapped civilians from Mount Sinjar [photos]

https://twitter.com/ToltecGrl/status/498875589575458816

Via CNN:

The Iraqi air force and fighters with the Kurdish peshmerga carried out a dramatic rescue mission Monday at Mount Sinjar, taking supplies to desperate Yazidis and bringing some on board to make it safely out.

CNN’s Ivan Watson was on board one of the rescue helicopters and tweeted these gripping pictures:

Aboard an Iraqi Air Force helicopter making a dangerous emergency aid delivery to trapped Yezidis on Mount Sinjar pic.twitter.com/Hi36xzxNl9

— Ivan Watson (@IvanCNN) August 11, 2014

Iraqi gunner blasts away at targets below while flying over ISIS front line to deliver aid to people on Mount Sinjar pic.twitter.com/y6LZL3UsCI

— Ivan Watson (@IvanCNN) August 11, 2014

Circling over mount Sinjar, where we could see desperate Yazidis taking shelter under trees below#Iraq pic.twitter.com/bJ192xfs9d

— Ivan Watson (@IvanCNN) August 11, 2014

After chaotic scramble, Iraqi Air Force helicopter picked up 20 traumatized, hungry, dehydrated people from Mt Sinjar pic.twitter.com/slvhEOApMg

— Ivan Watson (@IvanCNN) August 11, 2014

15 year old Aziza cried whole flight to safety. Her father got separated during ISIS attack 1 week ago. Still missing pic.twitter.com/VSmTbhpHet

— Ivan Watson (@IvanCNN) August 11, 2014

Rescued Yezidis aboard Iraqi Air Force helicopter that evacuated trapped civilians from Mount Sinjar pic.twitter.com/2m9cJR2d7x

— Ivan Watson (@IvanCNN) August 11, 2014

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Mother and baby….precious cargo aboard Iraqi Air Force chopper evacuating Yezidis from Mount Sinjar pic.twitter.com/vmJbPq5afv

— Ivan Watson (@IvanCNN) August 11, 2014

When gunners shoot at ISIS on flight out of Mt Sinjar,Aziza clutches mom's hand (wears my helmet), sister covers ears pic.twitter.com/pcyP4JKNkW

— Ivan Watson (@IvanCNN) August 11, 2014

After a harrowing journey, a safe arrival:

These Iraqi Air Force guys and the Pesh Merga doing these rescue missions from Mt Sinjar are heroes#iraq #kurdistan pic.twitter.com/NH6PB4BMK1

— Ivan Watson (@IvanCNN) August 11, 2014

Yezidis arrive safely in Kurdistan after dangerous helicopter escape from Mount Sinjar pic.twitter.com/gb7LQflyKf

— Ivan Watson (@IvanCNN) August 11, 2014

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Report: Airstrikes haven’t stopped ISIS from advancing in Iraq