A physical trench cut into the earth south of Baghdad is, ostensibly, to prevent Islamic State militants from reaching the holy city of Karbala. However, Sunni leaders believe the trench serves another purpose, which is to prevent the former Sunni residents from returning to the fertile farmland they called home before the militants invaded Iraq.
At least 194 people were killed, mostly militants, and another five were wounded.
Militants launched an attack in three villages attached to Gwer and Makhmour. At least 40 of them were killed in Sultan Abdullah, Tal al-Reem, or Jarullah. Five Peshmerga were wounded.
In Mosul, Coalition airstrikes killed nine members of one family, and 25 tribal sheiks were kidnapped.
In Baghdad, gunmen killed a motorist in al-Jihad neighborhood. A body was found in Fahhama. In Utifiya, another body was discovered.
Gunmen killed a mokhtar near Muqdadiya.
Three people were kidnapped in Diyala province.
In Samarra, security forces killed 70 militants.
Security forces killed 26 militants, including a prominent leader, near the Adhaim Dam.
An airstrike in Sinjar killed 22 militants.
Fifteen militants were killed in Albu Said.
In Tikrit, five militants were killed.
Two militants were killed while trying to plant a bomb in Tuz.
An unidentified sniper killed two militants in Falluja.
