Fight for Turkmen Town Unfolding As 200 Are Killed across Iraq

Updated at 10:28 p.m. EDT, August 30, 2014

At least 200 people were killed and 65 were wounded across Iraq. Most of the dead were militants and their numbers could be much higher as U.S. airstrikes continued. Also, a long awaited battle to help Amerli is already in the works, and dozens of militants have been killed just outside of town.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has documented that at least 27 Yazidi women have been sold to Islamic State militants for the purpose of marriage. Around 300 women were kidnapped when the militants attacked the Yazidis in recent weeks. Apparently, the militants are rejecting any attempts by outsiders to buy the women back.

Christians who have fled the town of Qara Qosh are reporting the kidnapping of young women and children by the Islamic State. A toddler and several girls were made to remain behind as the militants forced the last residents to leave.

The siege of Amerli may be drawing to an end. Thousands of militiamen have joined military personnel to liberate the city. At least 20 people have died in Amerli during the last two months as Islamic State militants have kept residents trapped. At least 59 militants were killed in villages surrounding the city. U.S., Australian, French and British forces airdropped supplies.

The fighters are also concentrating on Suleiman Bek, where 10 militants were killed in an airstrike. Many others were harmed in airstrikes.

A suicide bomber attacked an army checkpoint in Yusufiya, where he killed 11 people and wounded 24 more, both soldiers and civilians.

In Mahmoudiya, a suicide bomber killed five people and wounded 20 more.

Two soldiers were killed and five others were wounded when a roadside bomb blew up in Latifiya.

One civilian was killed and four more were wounded during a mortar attack on Tuz Khormato.

In Muqdadiya, five civilians were wounded in a blast at a market.

A blast in Kirkuk wounded two civilians.

Two Arab tribal leaders were kidnapped in Zab.

In Falluja, clashes took place near the Ibrahim bin Ali Bridge.

Thirty militants were killed in Anjana.

Security forces killed 20 militants in Ramadi.

Eleven militants were killed and five were wounded during a U.S. airstrike in Zumer.

Six militants were killed in Tirkit during clashes. Fourteen more were killed in airstrikes.

In Mosul, gunmen from the al-Ahrar Brigades killed five militants.

Near Haditha, four militants were killed.

Airstrikes in Alam killed a number of militants.

Author: Margaret Griffis

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