The Kurdish army in the north of Iraq has taken control of the strategically important city of Kirkuk, as Iraqi government forces fled the advancing ISIS fighters.
ISIS seem to be largely avoiding confrontation with the peshmerga and are heading towards the Iraqi capital Baghdad and Shia cities in the south, with only sporadic clashes reported on the outskirts of Kirkuk. The city, just outside the region currently controlled by the Kurdistan government, has long been claimed by Kurds, after Saddam Hussain’s programme of Arabisation saw the demographics of the region change.
Meanwhile, a parliamentary vote, called by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to declare emergency powers, was delayed after MPs failed to turn up.
US President Barack Obama has told reporters that all options to support the Iraqi govermment against ISIS, including military action, are open.
Speaking at the White House, Mr Obama said the US has an interest in ensuring that ISIS does not gain a permanent foothold in the region.
"There will be some short-term immediate things that need to be done militarily,"
"I don't rule out anything because we do have a stake in making sure these jihadists are not getting a permanent foothold in Iraq, or Syria for that matter,” he said.
The UK has ruled out military intervention in Iraq.
Foreign Secretary William Hague said to the BBC that the UK was considering sending humanitarian aid.
"We're very concerned about the hundreds of thousands of people who have been displaced, and with our very large humanitarian budget we may be in a position to assist with that, and we're looking at that now.
"But we will not be getting involved militarily. We will support the United States in anything that they decide to do, we're in consultation with them. But I stress again it is for the Iraqi leadership primarily to respond to this."