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When President Obama announced 鈥渓imited鈥� air strikes in Iraq last week aimed at heading off a 鈥減otential genocide鈥� and safeguarding US personnel and diplomatic facilities in the region, the decision garnered support from many hawks and doves alike.

But a sense is growing now that the humanitarian and security emergencies caused by advancing Islamist militants in northern Iraq have eased in the wake of the US strikes, and antiwar politicians and activists who largely stood by a war-reluctant president are sounding alarms over what they see as Mr. Obama鈥檚 military reengagement in Iraq.

Warning of 鈥渢he new Iraq war,鈥� some members of Congress and antiwar groups are gearing up for battle in September, when they say the Obama administration will go public with plans to ramp up support 鈥� including military assistance 鈥� to the Iraqi government in its fight with militants of the Islamic State.

鈥淚t is critical that we not get pulled into the war in Iraq,鈥� says Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) of Massachusetts, who made a point of not criticizing Obama鈥檚 air strikes in northern Iraq when he first announced them, instead underscoring that she understood听they would be 鈥渓imited, targeted actions.鈥�

But other antiwar forces opposed even those limited air strikes, saying they unavoidably have the US 鈥渃hoosing sides鈥� in what they say is Iraq鈥檚 internal conflict, and are only the prelude to deeper US involvement.

That sentiment was captured in banners carried outside the White House after Obama announced the air strikes on advancing fighters for Islamic State (IS), formerly known as ISIS. One carried by the liberal women鈥檚 group Codepink read: 鈥淣o US war in Iraq, been there done that.鈥澨�

On Thursday Obama, on vacation on Martha鈥檚 Vineyard, delivered a statement to reporters in which he declared the humanitarian mission in favor of thousands of minority Yazidis stranded on northern Iraq鈥檚 Mount Sinjar a success. As a result of air strikes on IS fighters pursuing the Yazidis and the airdrops of food and water to the trapped Iraqis, most of the Yazidis have been able to safely leave the mountain and those remaining have adequate food and water, Obama said.

The findings of a US assessment team that went to Mount Sinjar means that a rescue mission that had been in the planning stages for evacuating to safety what was thought to be thousands of Yazidis still on the mountain will no longer be necessary, Obama said.

But the president noted that the other air strikes announced last week 鈥� those targeting IS positions threatening US personnel and facilities 鈥� continue. He also praised recent steps in Baghdad towards formation of a new government, and suggested a new unity government drawing in all of Iraq鈥檚 sectarian communities would allow for stepped up US support. About three hours after Obama spoke, Iraqi state television announced that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had agreed to step aside, a move that would facilitate the forming of such a new government.

It鈥檚 the continuing air strikes on IS positions and promises of deepening support that has antiwar forces cringing.

鈥淭hese strikes do involve the United States directly in hostilities, regardless of how limited they are and regardless of whether there鈥檚 a humanitarian purpose involved,鈥� said US Rep. Jim McGovern (D) of Massachusetts in a statement following Obama鈥檚 announcement last week. 鈥淲hen we bomb ISIS, which is a horrible group,鈥� he added, 鈥渨e have to realize that we are heading down the path of choosing sides in an ancient religious and sectarian war inside Iraq.鈥澨�听听 听听听

This week Representative McGovern demanded a full debate and vote of authorization on any ongoing US intervention in Iraq once Congress returns from summer recess in September. The demand that Congress authorize any military involvement in Iraq is not limited to left-wing Democrats but is also heard from moderates like Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine and Republican libertarian Sen. Rand Paul.听听

鈥淎re we going to play dumb and let this become bigger?鈥� McGovern queried in an interview with Tom Hayden on the peace activist鈥檚 website. Noting that a range of US officials have begun justifying a deeper level of US involvement by describing IS as 鈥渨orse, more brutal, more terrifying than Al Qaeda,鈥� the Massachusetts congressman added, 鈥淚 have no confidence they won鈥檛 eventually put American boots on the ground.鈥�