The leader of the Islamic State, formerly Isis, has released the first audiotape calling for jihad since the group renamed. The group is currently battling Iraqi forces across large parts of the country.
A senior United Nations (UN) humanitarian official has warned that Iraq's neighbours - Jordan in particular - could be overwhelmed by a mass exodus of refugees.
These countries are already dealing with three million displaced Syrians.
Within Iraq, at least 300,000 people fleeing fighting in the northern city of Mosul have sought shelter in its relatively calm, autonomous Kurdistan region in the past week, according to the UN.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, added, "Jordan is now having the enormous pressure of the Syrian refugees, so it's difficult to see how the region can cope with another big refugee outflow."
"Obviously, if that would occur, I would hope that Iraqis could be well received everywhere. But as I said, for the moment the most important thing is to avoid it."
The Foreign Secretary has been clear on the threat of Isis, but he has ruled out the prospect of any UK military involvement in the crisis.
Iraq’s foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, is a natural diplomat. Polite, immaculately dressed, and blessed with a great memory.
Isis has paraded military equipment in Mosul it captured from when the Iraqi army fled in what some see as a "nightmare scenario."