White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest explained to reporters Thursday that the Obama administration believes there is no military solution to the crisis in Iraq.

Earnest’s response appears to contradict a New York Times report that said President Obama is considering air strikes to aid 40,000 stranded members of religious minorities who are currently starving on a mountain.

Earnest said that the White House was viewing reports of ethnic slaughter and religious persecution on a “case-by-case basis.”

Earnest refused to directly address the Times report, pointing out that the President was “keenly aware” about what was happening in Iraq.