Iraq conflict: Militants 'SEIZE' city of Tal Afar | BREAKING NEWS - 16 JUNE 2014
- Duration: 2:18
- Updated: 16 Jun 2014
Iraq conflict: Militants 'SEIZE' city of Tal Afar | BREAKING NEWS - 16 JUNE 2014
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Sunni militants have seized the northern Iraqi city of Tal Afar, officials and residents say.
Militants led by ISIS - the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant - captured key cities including Mosul and Tikrit last week, but some towns were retaken.
UN Humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos said there were reports of "major human rights violations", including summary executions of civilians.
The US says it may use drone strikes to halt the militants' advance.
"They're not the whole answer, but they may well be one of the options that are important," said US Secretary of State John Kerry.
"When you have people murdering, you have to stop that. And you do what you need to do if you need to try to stop it from the air or otherwise."
Mr Kerry added that his country was also open to holding direct talks with Iran over Iraq.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani earlier said he would consider co-operation if the US took action.
The USS George HW Bush aircraft carrier is already being deployed to the Gulf, accompanied by two more warships. But Washington says no US troops will be deployed on the ground.
Mixed city
Fighting in Tal Afar began on Sunday, with mortar shelling of some districts as militants tried to enter the city.
Tal Afar, which has a mixed Sunni and Shia population, some ethnic Turkmen, lies between Mosul and the border with Syria.
A resident reached by phone has told the Associated Press news agency that militants in pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns and flying black jihadi banners were roaming the streets as gunfire rang out.
"Residents are gripped by fear and most of them have already left the town to areas held by Kurdish security forces," said Hadeer al-Abadi, as he prepared to head out of town with his family.
But the Iraqi government insists the town is still largely in government hands; it quoted the commanding general there as saying he expected to finish off the ISIS fighters within a matter of hours, says the BBC's Jim Muir in northern Iraq.
The government also says it has "regained the initiative" against an offensive by Sunni rebels.
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http://wn.com/Iraq_conflict_Militants_'SEIZE'_city_of_Tal_Afar_|_BREAKING_NEWS_-_16_JUNE_2014
Iraq conflict: Militants 'SEIZE' city of Tal Afar | BREAKING NEWS - 16 JUNE 2014
For more Latest and Breaking News Headlines
SUBSCRIBE to https://www.youtube.com/user/ZakWorldNEWS
Sunni militants have seized the northern Iraqi city of Tal Afar, officials and residents say.
Militants led by ISIS - the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant - captured key cities including Mosul and Tikrit last week, but some towns were retaken.
UN Humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos said there were reports of "major human rights violations", including summary executions of civilians.
The US says it may use drone strikes to halt the militants' advance.
"They're not the whole answer, but they may well be one of the options that are important," said US Secretary of State John Kerry.
"When you have people murdering, you have to stop that. And you do what you need to do if you need to try to stop it from the air or otherwise."
Mr Kerry added that his country was also open to holding direct talks with Iran over Iraq.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani earlier said he would consider co-operation if the US took action.
The USS George HW Bush aircraft carrier is already being deployed to the Gulf, accompanied by two more warships. But Washington says no US troops will be deployed on the ground.
Mixed city
Fighting in Tal Afar began on Sunday, with mortar shelling of some districts as militants tried to enter the city.
Tal Afar, which has a mixed Sunni and Shia population, some ethnic Turkmen, lies between Mosul and the border with Syria.
A resident reached by phone has told the Associated Press news agency that militants in pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns and flying black jihadi banners were roaming the streets as gunfire rang out.
"Residents are gripped by fear and most of them have already left the town to areas held by Kurdish security forces," said Hadeer al-Abadi, as he prepared to head out of town with his family.
But the Iraqi government insists the town is still largely in government hands; it quoted the commanding general there as saying he expected to finish off the ISIS fighters within a matter of hours, says the BBC's Jim Muir in northern Iraq.
The government also says it has "regained the initiative" against an offensive by Sunni rebels.
TAGS
abc breaking news, bbc, bbc football, bbc iplayer, bbc news, bbc news america, bbc persian, bbc sport, bbc weather, bbc world news, breaking celebrity news, breaking election news, breaking late news, breaking local news, breaking music news, breaking news, breaking news alerts, breaking news canada, breaking news headlines, breaking news in atlanta, breaking news in nigeria, breaking news india, breaking news pensacola florida, breaking news plane crash, breaking news story, breaking sports news, business expensive news home media world, christian world news, cnn, cnn breaking news, cnn money, cnn news, cnn news breaking news, cnn news world, detroit breaking news, global news, headline, headline news, health care technology news, hot latest global news, internet technology news, las vegas breaking news, latest breaking news, latest celebrity news, latest information technology news, latest music news, latest news, latest news headlines, latest news update, latest sports news, live breaking news, local breaking news, local news today, msn breaking news, nbc breaking news, nbc world news, news of the world, news report us world, news today news, news updated daily, solar technology news, sports news today, technology news, the latest news, today news, us news and world, us news and world report, us news and world report magazine, us news and world report web site, us news world report, world news, world news daily, world news headlines
- published: 16 Jun 2014
- views: 6991