This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-27960142

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Iraq crisis: Militants 'seize more towns along Euphrates' Iraq 'struggling' against Isis militants, say diplomats
(about 5 hours later)
Sunni militants say they have seized a strategically important border crossing and two towns along the Euphrates river in continued fighting in Iraq. Iraq's government is struggling in its battle against militants, diplomats and politicians have told the BBC.
Officials admitted that the militants had seized the border crossing to Syria near the town of Qaim, killing 30 troops after a day-long battle. Fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis) said they seized a border crossing to Syria and two towns in north-west Iraq on Saturday.
Rebels also said they had taken the towns of Rawa and Aneh. Correspondents say Isis appears to be better trained, better equipped and more experienced than the army.
The Sunni extremists attacked the city of Mosul in June and have since seized large swathes of territory across Iraq.
There is deep pessimism in Baghdad about the way the government's war against Isis is going, says the BBC's World Affairs Editor John Simpson, who has been speaking to senior politicians and diplomats in the capital.
The Iraqi air force ran out of American Hellfire missiles two weeks ago, and in any case only has two Cessna planes capable of firing Hellfires, he adds.
Experts say Isis has established secure safe havens, including some in neighbouring Syria, which will be difficult to target.
Sectarian tensions
On Saturday, Iraqi officials admitted that Isis had seized a border crossing near the town of Qaim, killing 30 troops after a day-long battle.
Rebels also said they had taken the towns of Rawa and Aneh along the Euphrates river.
Correspondents say a campaign along the river may eventually lead to an assault on Baghdad from the west.Correspondents say a campaign along the river may eventually lead to an assault on Baghdad from the west.
The capture of the Qaim crossing in western Iraq could help Isis transport weapons and other equipment to different battlefields, analysts say. The capture of the Qaim crossing in western Iraq could also help Isis transport weapons and other equipment to different battlefields, analysts say.
Sunni extremists have seized control of large areas of territory across Iraq in recent days. Extremist fighters claim to have seized parts of Iraq's largest oil refinery, at Baiji, and have also taken a disused chemical weapons factory in Muthanna, 70km (45 miles) north-west of Baghdad.
They claim to have seized parts of Iraq's largest oil refinery, at Baiji, and have also taken a disused chemical weapons factory in Muthanna, 70km (45 miles) north-west of Baghdad. The government denied that militants had gained access to parts of the Baiji refinery but said the army was facing "violent attacks" from gunmen.
On Saturday the government again denied that militants had gained access to parts of the Baiji refinery but did admit the army was facing "violent attacks" from gunmen.
Analysis from the BBC's Jim Muir in Irbil
While keeping up the pressure on Baghdad from the north, where there is constant skirmishing in a belt roughly 70km (43 miles) from the capital, the militant Sunni rebels now seem to be preparing for a thrust from the west.
As well as taking the border crossing at Qaim, the rebels also say they have taken the nearby town of Qaim itself, as well as Rawa, about 70km to the east, the next stop on the Euphrates as it winds its way towards Baghdad.
South-east of Rawa, the town of Aneh also apparently fell to the militants without combat, and the Iraqi army's regional command HQ nearby is said to be surrounded.
Anbar province is heavily tribal, and the rebels say they are negotiating the handover of towns and villages without bloodshed in co-operation with local tribes.
Since January, they already control the town of Falluja, only 30km from Baghdad, and much of the regional capital Ramadi, about 40km further west.
The militants seem to be trying to connect up these two pockets and secure control of the whole Euphrates valley from the Syrian border to Baghdad.
Two government-held towns, Hit and Haditha, stand in their way along a 140km stretch of the river between Aneh and Ramadi.
If the rebels can join up those two areas and take full control in Ramadi, they would be in a position to prepare for an assault on the western approaches to Baghdad, using Falluja as the springboard.
Also on Saturday, thousands of Shia militia loyal to the powerful cleric Moqtada al-Sadr paraded through the streets of Baghdad.Also on Saturday, thousands of Shia militia loyal to the powerful cleric Moqtada al-Sadr paraded through the streets of Baghdad.
The cleric, whose Mehdi Army fought the US in Iraq for years, had called for a military parade across the country.The cleric, whose Mehdi Army fought the US in Iraq for years, had called for a military parade across the country.
Correspondents say the show of force will be seen as a very disturbing development by the Baghdad government. Correspondents say the show of force will be seen as a very disturbing development by the Baghdad government as the parade will only raise sectarian tensions at a time when the government is under pressure to rally the country together against the extremists.
The impressive-looking parade of men in battle fatigues accompanied by serious military hardware will only raise sectarian tensions at at time when the government is under pressure to rally the country together against the extremists, our correspondent reports.
US Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to travel to Iraq soon to press for a more representative cabinet, hoping this could ease tensions between the country's rival Muslim sects.US Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to travel to Iraq soon to press for a more representative cabinet, hoping this could ease tensions between the country's rival Muslim sects.
The US, which pulled out of Iraq in 2011, is sending some 300 military advisers to Iraq to help in the fight against the insurgents there.
But in the face of Iraqi calls for US air strikes, the White House is insisting that there is no purely military solution to the crisis.
Correspondents say Mr Obama believes Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki has endangered the country by ignoring Sunni concerns and governing in the interests of the Shia majority.
Iraq's sectarian splitIraq's sectarian split
Sunnis and Shias: What's the story?Sunnis and Shias: What's the story?
Jeremy Bowen: Why Sunni-Shia tensions have returnedJeremy Bowen: Why Sunni-Shia tensions have returned
Iraq crisis: Voices from IraqIraq crisis: Voices from Iraq
Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama said Isis - which has an estimated 10,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria - had exploited a power vacuum in Syria to amass arms and resources, but denied this was because the US had not moved to back moderate rebel forces fighting President Bashar Assad.
The US, which pulled out of Iraq in 2011, is sending some 300 military advisers to Iraq to help in the fight against the insurgents there.
But in the face of Iraqi calls for US air strikes, the White House is insisting that there is no purely military solution to the crisis.
Correspondents say Mr Obama believes Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki has endangered the country by ignoring Sunni concerns and governing in the interests of the Shia majority.
The UN estimates that about one million people have been displaced within Iraq as a result of violence this year.
About 500,000 people fled their homes in the country's second-largest city, Mosul, which Isis captured last week.
Isis in Iraq
Isis grew out of an al-Qaeda-linked organisation in Iraq
Jihadi groups around the world
Are you in Iraq or do you have family there? Have you been affected by recent events? You can send details of your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using 'Iraq' in the subject line.Are you in Iraq or do you have family there? Have you been affected by recent events? You can send details of your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using 'Iraq' in the subject line.