Islamic Militants Seize Control of Mosul, Second Largest Iraqi City · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Thousands of Iraqis flee their homes as Mosul falls under ISIS control today. Photo source: Twitter user @mohsinani
Iraq's second largest city Mosul fell into the hands of Islamist militants today (June 10). Reports say the militants are from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a splinter group of the notorious Al Qaeda, which is also fighting in Syria.
Thousands of Iraqis have fled the homes following the fighting over the city. On Twitter, one Iraqi blogger Maryam Al Dabbagh, who is in the UAE, charts her family's struggle during the ordeal.
Her tweets from June 7 read:
Mosul under fire. Explosions and firing heard in several areas and almost no mention in intl media. #iraq
— Maryam Al Dabbagh (@maryamwd) June 7, 2014
Several solidarity campaigns can be seen circulating around social media platforms to raise awareness about situation in #mosul
— Maryam Al Dabbagh (@maryamwd) June 7, 2014
Dabbagh notes acts of kindness:
Reported that hotels in Mosul are opening up their doors to shelter the displaced families in #Nineveh . #iraq
— Maryam Al Dabbagh (@maryamwd) June 7, 2014
Bakeries in (Adan, Al thubbat and al sukkar) areas distribute bread for free to people in #mosul #Nineveh #iraq
— Maryam Al Dabbagh (@maryamwd) June 7, 2014
As the fighting continues over the city, Dabbagh's tweets turns to her family, still in Iraq:
I haven't seen my parents glued to tv like this since 2003 . I pray for the safety of my family and Iraqis in #mosul and #iraq .
— Maryam Al Dabbagh (@maryamwd) June 7, 2014
She draws parallels to the ongoing fighting in neighbouring Syria:
Media narratives are confusing masses now in #iraq. Similar patterns from the Syrian war
— Maryam Al Dabbagh (@maryamwd) June 7, 2014
And she looks back at recent history to compare the terror that has gripped her hometown:
This displacement is a first in #mosul history , even with 2003 the city has not seen such extreme measures. #iraq
— Maryam Al Dabbagh (@maryamwd) June 7, 2014
On June 9, her tweets take another turn. She reports:
Reports from family in #mosul that electricity is off . Complete shutdown
— Maryam Al Dabbagh (@maryamwd) June 9, 2014
Soon, her family takes the decision to join the thousands of people fleeing the city:
Family is evacuating homes in #mosul . لا حول و لا قوة الا بالله العلي العظيم
— Maryam Al Dabbagh (@maryamwd) June 9, 2014
And then…
News confirming that the city is hours away from falling completely under the control of the armed militants. Army fled this morning #mosul
— Maryam Al Dabbagh (@maryamwd) June 10, 2014
Her tweets from today, show her family stranded near the Kurdish borders. She explains:
Family stuck in car on the borders to duhook, no car is given access. Reports that tents are being prepared for the displaced #mosul
— Maryam Al Dabbagh (@maryamwd) June 10, 2014
Al Kharez area on the borders to #irbil is completely closed. Chaos! Phonelines cut . People are disconnected . #iraq
— Maryam Al Dabbagh (@maryamwd) June 10, 2014
Meanwhile, Dabbagh tries to reason with conflicting reports:
Kurdish prime minster says #kurdistan is open to refugees from #mosul. But on ground reports from Iraqis there claim the borders are closed
— Maryam Al Dabbagh (@maryamwd) June 10, 2014
Watching television, Zaid Benjamin is surprised to see Iraq TV is playing a song while it's second largest city was falling into militants control:
التلفزيون العراقي الان مع ورود انباء عن خروج ثاني مدن #العراق عن السيطرة الحكومية بحسب محافظها اثيل النجيفي pic.twitter.com/IjJIb7mmuR
— Zaid Benjamin (@zaidbenjamin) June 10, 2014
Journalist Hassan Hassan comments:
Iraqi state TV shows an interview with singer Abdulhusain Allami while Baghdad is losing control over a second city https://t.co/fDTgpWRzae
— Hassan Hassan حسن (@hhassan140) June 10, 2014
Meanwhile, the Arab world is watching as the chaos unfolds.
From Bahrain, Huda Al Mahmood wonders [ar]:
كارثة جديدة تحل بالوطن العربي.. ولا أتصور أن وصول القاعدة الى الموصل سيخدم أحدأ !! يامن تكافحون الإرهاب!! #الموصل
— Huda Al-Mahmood (@Huda_E_AL) June 10, 2014
A new catastrophe befalls the Arab world. I don't imagine the control of Mosul by Al Qaeda will serve anyone. Where are all the counter-terrorism attempts?
Palestinian Maath Musleh asks:
داعش تطلق 2725 سجين من سجن #الموصل…كم منهم رح ينضم لداعش؟ #العراق
— مَعاذ مصلح (@MaathMusleh) June 10, 2014
The ISIS releases 2725 prisoners from a Mosul prison. How many of them will join ISIS?
And Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi states the obvious:
داعش تسيطر على #الموصل !!! أتوقع ان يكون لهذا الخبر تداعيات حتى خارج العراق .
— جمال خاشقجي (@JKhashoggi) June 10, 2014
The ISIS takes control over Mosul. I expect this news to have repercussions outside Iraq