Iraq conflict: Militants 'seize' city of Tal Afar

Sunni militants have seized the northern Iraqi city of Tal Afar, officials and residents say.

Militants led by ISIS - the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant - captured key cities including Mosul and Tikrit last week, but some towns were retaken.

UN human rights chief Navi Pillay said the "apparently systematic series of executions [of non-combatants] almost certainly amounted to war crimes".

The US earlier announced it might use drone strikes to halt the ISIS advance.

"They're not the whole answer, but they may well be one of the options that are important," said US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Who is ISUS? H ow did they just pop up? I've never heard of them until this past weekend. They came out of the blue, and can challenge the Iraqi military.
How do they get their funding? Who are they fighting for? Are they for the Shia/ Sheiite Muslims or the Sunni Muslims?
Those are the questions running through my mind.