Iraq: Mosul, Tikrit fall to ISIS whilst Samarra comes under siege

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ners-free.html

Iraq's second city Mosul burning and overrun by Islamic insurgents after government forces run away

- Families fled Iraq's second city today after it was overrun by terrorists
- Mosul captured by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant - an al Qaeda group
- Fall deals serious blow to Baghdad's efforts to fight Sunni militants
- Iraq's prime minister has asked parliament to declare a state of emergency

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

Iraqi government forces fled the country's second city yesterday as it was stormed by an al Qaeda group that torched buildings, seized weapons and set hundreds of prisoners free.

Security forces ran in terror from the city of Mosul after Islamic militants captured the city - raising black banners marking the Islamic State above seized security bases, police stations and government headquarters.

Dramatic photographs showed military vehicles ablaze last night after members of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) captured Mosul.

Fearing for their lives, hundreds of families fled the city - a majority Arab area with Assyrian, Turcoman and Kurdish minorities - in a bid to make it to safety.

The eventual fall of the city on Tuesday followed four days of fierce fighting in Mosul and the surrounding area - and came as government forces in the region appeared to collapse.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki pressed parliament to declare a state of emergency following the action.

The loss of Mosul marks a heavy defeat in Baghdad's battle against a widening insurgency by the breakaway al-Qaida group which has been trying to seize territory both in Iraq and neighboring Syria.

Earlier this year, the group captured another Iraqi city, Fallujah, in the west of the country, and government forces have been unable to take it back after months of fighting.

The far larger Mosul is an even more strategic prize for the extremist group.

The city and surrounding Ninevah province are a major export route for Iraqi oil and a gateway to Syria.

Looks like everything the 'experts' and politicians said has turned out to be wrong and everything that anyone with their head screwed on predicted, ie that removing Saddam Hussein would lead to a power vaccum, have been proven correct.

I remember arguing exactly the same back in 2011 in this forum and having people tell me that I was wrong as unlike Iraq we were only doing 'limited strikes' despite the fact that removing these strongmen usually leads to even worse crackpot groupings taking over, which - if anyone is watching Libya at the moment - is exactly what is happening. The same is happening in areas where the Assad family have been removed from power in Syria.

The list to thank for this mess is too long, but a special shoutout to Bush, Blair and Obama. Well done.

Thoughts?

[-:Undertaker:-]

Great maps and documents can be found here: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-0...iraq-and-syria on the unfolding situation in Iraq and Syria. Interesting as it is looking very much like the birth of a new state.

[Chippiewill]

I think we should invade go to Iraq and deliver some freedom.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Apparently, or at least according to Arab/ISIS sources on Twitter, they've reached Baghdad after taking Taji & sleeper cells have been activated

Baghdad airport right now....

And 3 hours ago (in line with what i've read from ISIS twitter accounts)...

Hearing that Iraqi military base at Taji--just 20 miles north of Baghdad--has fallen to ISIS. Main resupply depot for Iraqi army. Disaster.

Prime Minister Maliki had better get out a glass of scotch, a revolver and retire to his office.