Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a plan to arm Syrian rebels to fight against Islamic State. The rebels could draw some of the militants back into Syria from Iraq. Meanwhile, at least 178 were killed across Iraq, and another 95 were wounded.
Although U.S. President Barack Obama has promised ground troops would not battle the militants in Iraq, the White House admitted that some of the military advisors sent to Iraq might find themselves on the front lines. The new Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi does not want American troops fighting there either, as he prefers that the coalition concentrate on militants in Syria instead. However, what U.S. troops will do in Iraq could change dramatically if current strategies fail.
One part of the current U.S. strategy is to support the Kurdish Peshmerga forces. Finance Minister Roz Nuri Shaways, who is also a Peshmerga commander, warned that the forces are not yet ready to try to fight militants in Mosul. Though they did recover some villages today. Also, the bodies of 40 militants killed in U.S. airstrikes were found near Mosul.
In Falluja, shelling and airstrikes killed 12 people.
A suicide car bomber killed eight security personnel and wounded 16 more in Tarmiya.
Nine people were killed and 11 were wounded when a suicide bomber destroyed the Albu Farraj Bridge near Ramadi.
The bodies of seven policemen were found in Tikrit.
In Baghdad, a bombing killed three people and wounded eight more in Kadhimiya. Another bomb killed one and wounded five in Radwaniya. In Karrada, a bomb killed one civilian and wounded seven more. Five militants were killed. A dumped body was found.
Four militants were killed during airstrikes in Jurf al-Sakhar, but then clashes left eight soldiers dead. At least 12 more militants were killed there or in Amiriyat al-Falluja.
Clashes in al-Sger left four soldiers and 11 militants dead, and another four soldiers wounded.
In Mansouriya, clashes left three militants dead. Four militiamen and civilians were wounded.
Mortar fire in Abu Saida killed three civilians and wounded ten.
Five militants were killed during an airstrike near a dam they were trying close in Muqdadiya. Mortars killed three civilians and wounded seven more.
A child was killed and four women were wounded during shelling in Kabiba.
Fighter pilots killed 11 militants and wounded five more who were trying to enter the country near Qaim.
Four militants were killed and ten more were wounded during airstrikes in Duluiya. Airstrikes and other operations killed 26 militants at the airport.
Tribal fighters in Hawija killed two militants and wounded four more.
In Qara Tapa, Peshmerga forces killed two militants.
Clashes took place in Barwana.
