Hundreds of thousands of Shi’ite pilgrims were in Karbala today for the culmination of Ashura observances. No major attack against them occurred despite the presence of Islamic State militants in Iraq. Some attacks did occur elsewhere, among the battles. At least 141 people were killed and 69 more were wounded.
Hoshiyar Zebari, Iraq’s finance minister warned that reckless spending against the Islamic State is undermining Iraq’s ability to conduct the state’s business. In particular, he complained that more than $1 billion has been spent on dangerous Shi’ite militias, who are accused of conducting their own crimes against Sunni Iraqis.
In Latifiya, a bomb killed two pilgrims and wounded 12 more. Security forces killed 11 militants who had set up a fake checkpoint and freed 21 hostages.
A coalition airstrike in Qaim killed seven civilians and wounded 27 others.
Shelling in Falluja left two children dead and 13 others wounded.
Two soldiers were killed and an officer was wounded as they tried to dismantle a roadside bomb in Latifiya.
In Mosul, two women were executed and 11 militants were killed. Unidentified gunmen killed four militants.
At least 16 people were wounded in a mortar attack near a Shi’ite shrine in Baghdad.
In Hammam al-Alil, airstrikes killed 52 militants.
Twenty-two militants were killed in Amiriyat al-Falluja.
An airstrike near Garma left 12 militants dead.
Nine militants were killed in Shura.
Artillery fire killed three militants in Sensl.
Two militants drowned during a shootout at Hamrin Lake.
Airstrikes and artillery fire killed many militants in Qara Qosh and Bartilla.
A number of militants were killed in Zumer.
In Abu Ghraib, clashes and airstrikes were reported.
