According to a report from The New York Times, ISIS—the Sunni militant group gaining control of Iraq and Syria—has "appeared to capture" Iraq's biggest dam. If the report is true, the consequences could be disastrous:

The dam, which sits on the Tigris River and is about 30 miles northwest of the city of Mosul, provides electricity to Mosul and controls the water supply for a large amount of territory. A report published in 2007 by the United States government, which had been involved with work on the dam, warned that should it fail, a 65-foot wave of water could be unleashed across areas of northern Iraq.

Kurdish forces reportedly tried to fight off ISIS militants, but eventually retreated.

According to The Guardian, ISIS also took over Iraq's largest Christian town, Qaraqosh, today after defeating Kurdish forces. ISIS posted a statement online insisting that it will continue "the march in all directions."

President Obama is now considering airstrikes to combat the "humanitarian crisis" in Iraq.

[Image via AP]