Kurdistan's Peshmerga forces transfer tanks on the borders of Kirkuk city, northern Iraq. Kurdish forces of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region have taken complete control over the disputed city of Kirkuk after the Iraqi army withdrew from there, a Kurdish military spokesman was cited as saying. EPA
dpa/Washington
US President Barack Obama says his national security team is "looking at all options" on how to respond to the advance of Islamic militants in Iraq.
"I don't rule out anything," Obama said, describing the situation in Iraq as a clear emergency.
Obama came under blistering criticism earlier Thursday from opposition Republicans on his response to the latest developments in Iraq. House Speaker John Boehner blasted him for inaction while the situation there deteriorated.
"It's not like we haven't seen this problem coming for over a year," Boehner said. "They're 100 miles from Baghdad, and what's the president doing? Taking a nap."