The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, which has gained large swathes of territory in the two countries, is now in control of Iraq's largest Christian town, Qaraqosh.

The French government has confirmed that Qaraqosh has fallen into the hands of the militants and expressed France's concerns over the progress and the acts of violence that have been committed there, reported CNN.

France has immediately called for a United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss the threat posed by the militant group in Iraq. Thousands of Christians have reportedly fled from the city just like other minorities targeted by the group including, Shia Muslims.

Qaraqosh is a historic Assyrian town about 20 miles southeast of militant-occupied Mosul and is home to almost 50,000 people.