Kurdish Security Forces Have Been Routed By Islamic State Fighters. Extremists Have Taken Control Of Iraq's Largest Hydroelectric Dam. 200,000 Civilians Have Already Fled The Onslaught

Extremists Seize 3 More Towns in Iraq After Routing Kurdish Forces -- New York Times

BAGHDAD — Sunni extremists seized control of three towns in northern Iraq on Sunday after fierce battles with Kurdish security forces, sending thousands of people fleeing to the nearby mountains and threatening the country’s largest dam.

In the darkness of Sunday morning, the Sunni fighters swept in to take one of the towns, Sinjar, and set about their method of conquest, which is as familiar as it is brutal: They destroyed a Shiite shrine, executed resisters, overran local security forces and hoisted the black flag of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, above government buildings.

Hours later, as the militants demanded that the city’s residents swear allegiance to ISIS or be killed, the group’s social media campaign was underway, with photos posted online showing militants patrolling the city.

The United Nations representative in Baghdad, Nickolay Mladenov, issued a statement on Sunday, citing reports he had that as many as 200,000 civilians, mostly from the minority Yazidi community, had fled the fighting.

“A humanitarian tragedy is unfolding in Sinjar,” Mr. Mladenov said.

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More News On The Islamic State's Advance Against Kurdish Forces

Iraq conflict: ISIS fighters seize Mosul Dam, oilfield and 3 towns -- Reuters
Islamic State fighters seize Iraq's biggest dam -- CNBC
Islamic State jihadists seize Iraq's largest dam, 3 towns in offensive vs Kurds -- RT
Islamic State takes control of Sinjar, Mosul Dam in northern Iraq -- Long War Journal
ISIS Seizes More Towns and Possibly Control of Iraq's Biggest Dam -- The Wire
Iraq jihadists seize another town from Kurdish forces -- AFP
Islamic State takes Iraqi oilfield and towns -- Al Jazeera
Islamic State makes gains in Iraq -- Euronews
ISIS beats back Kurds to take Mosul Dam and three towns -- Deutsche Welle
Sunni Insurgents Seize Small Towns in Iraq's North -- AP
UN warns of 'humanitarian tragedy' as ISIS seizes Sinjar -- France 24
"Humanitarian tragedy" warned in Iraq, as 200,000 forced to flee -- Arirang

My Comment: This is a major victory for the Islamic State .... and a major defeat for the Kurds. The below CNN video report is a good summary on how much The Islamic State has expanded in just the past few months.