Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and U.S. President Barack Obama met in the Oval Office on Tuesday. The president offered $200 million in humanitarian assistance to Iraq, but did not reveal to the public if further military aid had also been offered. Apparently, no request for military aid was made.
The subject of Iranian influence also came up during the meeting. Obama stressed that Tehran must respect Iraq’s sovereignty even as it helps the country defend itself from the Islamic State militants. With the condition the Iraqi Army is in, Iranian support is likely essential.
Speaker John Boenher would prefer an expansion of the role the U.S. plays in Iraq, giving more duties to soldiers. Duties that are just short of combat.
At least 160 were killed and another 72 were wounded.
In Baghdad, a car bomb killed eight people and wounded 21 more. A pair of car bombs in Wihda killed six people and wounded 13 more. Four people were killed and 10 more were wounded by a blast outside the Yarmouk hospital. B.O.C. killed 26 militants.
Seven people were killed and 13 more were wounded when a bomb exploded at a Mahmoudiya market.
A bomb killed three people and wounded eight more in Saba’a al-Bour.
A bomb killed two people and wounded three in Daquq.
A bomb in Muqdadiya killed a university student and wounded four of her relatives.
The deputy governor of the Salah ad Din provincesaid that the refinery in Baiji was still in Iraqi hands. Twenty militants were killed, but the number of casualties among the security forces was not released.
Militants buried 45 dead in Shirqat.
Security forces killed six militants at Lake Thar Thar.
Six militants were killed near Mazra’a.
Security forces in Salah ad Din and Diyala provinces killed 25 militants.
In Mosul, unidentified gunmen killed a militant official.
