Militants Now Control Third Iraq Town; 40 Killed, 59 Wounded

Today’s attacks left 40 dead and 59 wounded, including several foreign medical workers. Also, ISIS/DAASH militants took over a northern Iraq town in Salah ad Din province. Militants have tried to take over the town as recently as last year, but considering the events in Anbar, this attempt could be more serious.

Far from Anbar province, militants have taken over Suleiman Bek, where they are still in control. Security forces have sealed off the town. The town has had a long history of post-invasion violence, and it saw numerous clashes last year. Two policemen were wounded in sporadic gunfire and clashes. Gunmen were said to have taken control of several neighboring villages and suburbs.

Shelling intensified in Falluja overnight. Shells wounded nine employees at the hospital including Indian and Bangladeshi nationals. An attack at a checkpoint just south of the city killed two soldiers and wounded four more.

Six militants were killed in clashes in Khalidiya.

Four policemen were killed and three more were wounded at a Ramadi checkpoint. Parts of the city were reportedly lost to militants after intense clashes.

Outside of Anbar province:

In Baghdad, two bombs at the Shorja market killed seven people and wounded 21 more, and it also set the market on fire. A woman’s dumped body was found in Husseiniya.

Three people were killed and 12 were wounded in a roadside blast in Baquba.

A bomb in Kirkuk killed two senior army officers. A roadside bomb killed one soldier and wounded six more.

In Mosul, three militants were killed. Gunmen killed two people.

Gunmen stormed a home in Zab where they killed two people and wounded two others who were attending a gathering of security personnel.

A sticky bomb killed a Sahwa member in Abu Ghraib.

Three militants were killed in Qayara.

A gunman was killed in Qaim.

An airstrike in Garma killed two militants.

Author: Margaret Griffis

Margaret Griffis is a journalist from Miami Beach, Florida and has been covering Iraqi casualties for Antiwar.com since 2006.