Iraqi militants bulldozed a path into Syria — a jihadist offensive meant to create a united Islamic state — and seized two major cities in Iraq on Tuesday and Wednesday, sending a half-million innocent Iraqis desperately scrambling for refuge.
Members of the radical Islamic State of Iraq and Syria cleared a road through a berm and barreled over the border, a photo reveals.
After the powerful move — a stunning blow to the Shiite-led Iraqi government — the gun-wielding militants celebrated by waving the group’s signature black flags in the air, according to the photo, which the militant group posted on its Twitter page Tuesday.
Another photo shows a militant standing in front of Iraqi army Humvees and trucks — suggesting the pics were taken after the launch of a jihadist offensive this week in which large numbers of military vehicles were captured.
Since the stunning takeover began on Monday, militants have captured a large swath of northern and north-central Iraq.
It included the fall of the Nineveh province in the north and parts of Kirkuk and Saleheddin provinces in the south.
The takeover forced Iraqis to flee their homes, displacing as many as 500,000 people.
Meanwhile, the US military rushed to arm Iraq’s security forces as fears that the group would take over Baghdad — just 80 miles south of Tikrit — mounted on Wednesday.
“All of Tikrit is in the hands of the militants,” said one high-ranking police officer.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki asked parliament to declare a state of emergency — calling for help from the international community on Wednesday.
After Tikrit’s fall, the militants spread down the main highway toward Baghdad, with militants battling security forces on the northern outskirts of Samarra, just 70 miles from the capital.
The oil refining center of Baiji fell on Wednesday — leaving the insurgents in control of a major refinery as well as a key power station supplying Baghdad and the provinces of Kirkuk and Salahuddin.
Iraqi officials called it the worst security crisis since the last US troops pulled out three years ago.
The United States has sent hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition, missiles, rockets and grenades to Baghdad.
Ten drones will be delivered to the country in coming weeks.