Most of the 141 people reported killed today were militants. A policeman was wounded in a shooting.
Politics:
The Iraqi government is rounding up as many as 2,500 individuals who, they say, are involved with "sleeper cells" that will attack Baghdad. Shi’ite militiamen are "helping" detain people, giving credence to the accusation that this is really just an "intimidation campaign" against Sunnis.
Saudi Arabia deployed 30,000 troops to the border with Iraq after learning that Iraqi troops may have left their posts. The Interior Ministry’s spokesman, Saad Maan, denied the accusation. The troops may have been re-deployed near Karbala, where clashes took place yesterday.
Kurdish President Massoud Barzani requested Baghdad to organize a referendum on Kurdish independence. The Kurdistan Regional Government is also threatening to sue Baghdad if it does not cease trying to block oil sales.
Militants released 32 Turkish truck drivers who were captured on June 11. They also relocated 46 Indian nurses, but they are hanging on to a group of 40 Indian construction workers captured near Mosul.
Refugees say that Islamic State (ISIS) militants are executing non-Sunnis and Sunnis opposed to their takeover.
Fighting:
The bodies of 12 people, including women and children, were found dumped by the road near Tikrit.
In Mosul, nine bodies bearing signs of torture were found.
Several civilians were killed during air strikes in Qaim.
In Jurf al-Sakhar, a police colonel was wounded in a shooting. Three militants were killed during air strikes.
Security forces said 88 militants were killed in Salah ad-Din province.
Fourteen militants were killed in Mansouriya.
Another 14 were killed in Khalidiya.
In Baghdad, a gunman was killed.
A militant was killed in Latifiya.
Violent clashes between Peshmerga and ISIS took place in Jalawla.
Iraq forces bombed the Shirqat mayor’s office where they believe militants are.
