Sunni militants 'seize Iraq's western border crossings'

The Iraqi government appears to have lost control of its western borders after Sunni militants reportedly captured crossings to Syria and Jordan, the BBC reported.

Officials said the rebels took two key crossings in Anbar on Sunday, a day after seizing one at Qaim, a town in the province that borders Syria.

The strategically important airport in the northern town of Tal Afar has also reportedly fallen to the rebels.

Isis-led militants have cut a swathe through parts of Iraq.

US President Barack Obama warned of the risk of the insurgents destablising other countries in the region.

"We're going to have to be vigilant generally," he told the US TV network CBS, in case the militants "spill over into some of our allies like Jordan."

"Their extreme ideology poses a medium and long-term threat," he added.

Since the fall of Mosul in early June, Isis - the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant - have helped win large areas in the west and north.

They have taken four strategically important towns in the predominantly Sunni Anbar province - Qaim, Rutba, Rawa and Anah - in the last two days.

Gunmen reportedly captured the border posts of al-Waleed, on the Syrian frontier, and Turaibil, on the Jordanian border, on Sunday after government forces pulled out.

The capture of frontier crossings could help Isis transport weapons and other equipment to different battlefields, analysts say.