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AirTalk

Sunni militants threaten to march on Baghdad after capturing Mosul

By AirTalk Staff
Published Jun 12, 2014
An Iraqi policeman mans a checkpoint in the capital Baghdad on June 12, 2014, as jihadists and anti-government fighters have spearheaded a major offensive that overrun all of Nineveh province. Jihadists are pushing toward Baghdad after capturing a town only 90 kilometres (56 miles) to its north, in a lightning three-day offensive the Iraqi government has failed to stop.
An Iraqi policeman mans a checkpoint in the capital Baghdad on June 12, 2014, as jihadists and anti-government fighters have spearheaded a major offensive that overrun all of Nineveh province. Jihadists are pushing toward Baghdad after capturing a town only 90 kilometres (56 miles) to its north, in a lightning three-day offensive the Iraqi government has failed to stop.
(
AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images
)
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Sunni militants threaten to march on Baghdad after capturing Mosul

The militant group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) vowed today to attack Baghdad and further destabilize the country.

The Shiite-led government under Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is seeking to declare a state of emergency, after ISIS seized control of the second largest city in Iraq, Mosul.

The group is reportedly comprised of 7,000 - 10,000 fighters some of whom spilled over from Syria to capture Mosul. Iraqi soldiers presented little resistance with some dumping their uniforms and fleeing the city.  

he insurgency has maintained control of Falluja for more than six months, but as The New York Times reports, the seizure of Mosul is more ominous for the stability of Iraq. James Jeffrey, a former U.S. ambassador to Iraq told the Times, "It's a shock. It's extremely serious. It's far more serious than Falluja.” Does the current violence threaten to split Iraq? What role is the US playing?

Guest:

Tim Arango, Baghdad Bureau Chief, The New York Times