According to a local Iraqi commander on Sunday, the barricade would help repel a potential offensive on the city.

Local officials say it was set up by the country’s army in areas close to the town of Adeim.

The crisis in Iraq escalated after ISIL terrorists took control of Mosul, in a lightning advance on June 10, which was followed by the fall of Tikrit, located 140 kilometers (87 miles) northwest of the capital Baghdad.

An estimated 1.2 million people have been displaced in Iraq so far this year, according to the United Nations.

The ISIL terror group has vowed to continue its raid towards Baghdad.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki insisted, however, that the country’s security forces would confront the terrorists. He also maintained that Washington's regional allies Saudi Arabia and Qatar are responsible for the security crisis and growing terrorism in his country.

Soldiers of the Iraqi army have been engaged in heavy fighting with the terrorists on different fronts and have so far been able to push back the ISIL mercenaries in several areas.

More than 2 million Iraqis have so far volunteered to fight against ISIL terrorists, Iraqi Energy Ministry said.

NTJ/MB