Local leaders in Iraq's northwestern Diyala province have called on residents to "unite" against militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) group, who managed to seize Mosul – Iraq's second largest city – earlier Tuesday.
"It is important to set up popular committees around the province, especially at night, to stave off the ISIL," Mathni al-Tamimi, head of Diyala's local council, told Anadolu Agency following an emergency council meeting.
Al-Tamimi said the militants may be eyeing Diyala next after seizing Mosul and attempting to capture Samarra earlier this week.
"We fear such a disaster," al-Tamimi said. "That's why we're asking residents to be prepared to resist the ISIL."
Early Tuesday, the ISIL reportedly established total control over Mosul, capital of Iraq's northern Nineveh province, after several days of fighting with security forces.
The militant group – which Baghdad claims is linked to Al-Qaeda – seized the northern half of Mosul on Tuesday morning after capturing the southern half hours earlier, according to a security official.
Iraqi security forces withdrew from their positions as the ISIL took over the flashpoint city, the official said.
Militants seized the city's vital facilities, including the Mosul airport and an Iraq-Syria border crossing. They also staged three jailbreak operations, freeing numerous inmates from local prisons.
Iraq has seen a surge in violence in recent months.
While the army has continued to battle the ISIL in the country's western and northern provinces since last December, other areas of Iraq have seen unrelenting attacks on both civilians and security personnel.
By Mustafa Saadi
englishnews@aa.com.tr
www.aa.com.tr/en
