Again the world was alarmed by the invasion of Mosul, Iraq this month by the jihadist army called ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). According to parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, Iraqi forces fled, abandoned their arms, ammunition, armoured vehicles, the airport and some planes as ISIS advanced into the city of Mosul, leaving them behind to the terrorists. In March 2013, it took over the city of Raqqa, Syria. In January 2014, it took control the city of Fallujah, Anbar. And in June, it invaded Mosul, Iraq. The group has been known to rule brutally in the areas it controlled. Throughout its Iraq attack, ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) has targeted Christians. Accordingly, 25,000 Christians have fled to Bartilla. The conditions in Bartilla are horrible with no water because ISIS turned it off and no electricity because the government turned that off. It gave Christian residents three choices: obey, pay or leave. What are the ultimate goals of this radical Islamists' group in the Middle East?

ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria)is seen to be working towards an Islamic emirate that straddles Syria and Iraq. Experts believe they hope to set up a military district straddling the border between the two countries. Their presence threatens not just the security and the unity of Iraq but the whole Middle East. ISIS claims to have fighters from the UK, France, Germany and other European countries, as well as the US, the Arab world and the Caucasus. Initially, the group relied on donations from wealthy individuals in Gulf Arab states. Today, ISIS is said to earn a significant amounts from the oil fields it controls in eastern Syria, reportedly selling some of the supply back to the Syrian government. ISIS had cash and assets worth about $900m (£500m) and rose to around $2bn (£1.18bn).

How will this jihadist army's rise affect U.S. policy in the Middle East?

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Tidbits:

A cargo ship detained by the authorities in Plymouth, England for unsafe conditions has been found to be paying poverty wages.

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) detained the ship for failing safety management regulations. The MCA detained 10 foreign-flagged ships last month after they failed port state control inspections.