Iraq: Sushma Swaraj to meet Indian envoys to discuss crisis

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will chair a meeting of Indian envoys in Iraq’s neighbouring countries, to take stock of the escalating crisis in Iraq, Times Now reported. The crucial meeting is due to be held at 12 pm today, the report claimed. This comes after militants advanced in western Iraq and killed 21 people and took over three more towns and border posts as US President Barack Obama warned the offensive could spill over into other regional nations. [caption id=“attachment_1549181” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Sushma Swaraj. AFP[/caption] The militants, led by the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), seized the towns of Rawa and Ana after taking the Al-Qaim border crossing on Saturday, residents said. They then gunned down 21 local leaders in Rawa and Ana in two days of violence, according to officers and doctors. ISIS aims to create an Islamic state incorporating both Iraq and Syria, where the group has become a major force in the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad. With inputs from AFP